Colorado Local Adult-Use Applications
New Opportunities in Golden and Colorado Springs
Municipalities in Colorado that originally opted out of adult-use licenses are now in play for cannabis entrepreneurs. We will see a mix of license application windows, lottery processes, and ballot initiatives in the coming weeks and months.
Learn more details below.
City of Golden: Retail Licenses
Up to four adult-use cannabis retail licenses will be available in Golden after the city council approved Ordinance 2183 which sets up regulations for up to four (4) retail dispensaries. The retail locations must be located within designated areas.
Of the four licenses:
- One is reserved for social equity applicants.
- One is reserved for an existing medical marijuana retail store to convert. This license holder may opt for adult-use only, or adult use plus medical.
Application Timeline & Process
The Phase 1 application period begins 30 days after the effective date of the ordinance, with a 60-day open period for applications. Licenses will be awarded through a combined merit-lottery system.
The application period opens August 1, 2022, and ends at 4:00 pm on September 29, 2022.
Merit Scoring
Complete Phase 1 applications will go before a Review Committee that will score the applications based on a multi-factor balancing test to assure compliance with community values and these factors:
- Past experience in the industry
- Convenience of the proposed location
- Diversity of ownership
- Community benefit
- Social equity status
- Application quality, detail, and completeness
The Review Committee scores each applicant in a written report and those with a passing score then go on to the random lottery selection process.
Lottery Process
- Round only for selecting the one social equity applicant
- Remaining social equity applicants will be added to the general lottery pool
- Winners of the lottery go on to Phase 2 applications (if more applicants qualify than the number of available licenses)
Colorado Springs: Ballot Initiative November 2022
Advocacy group Your Choice Colorado Springs submitted close to 100,000 signatures to two add adult-use initiatives to the ballot in November 2022.
One initiative would authorize any existing medical marijuana retail store to convert to adult-use only or dual operation. Despite continued opposition from the mayor and city council, strong voter support is indicated by the number of signatures collected compared to the 19,000 that were required to place the measures on the ballot.
The second initiative involves a special retail marijuana sales tax of 5%.
If passed by voters, the initiatives will become effective in early 2023.
Leading up to the election, supporters of the adult-use initiative can help by spreading the word, donating funds, and volunteering to make phone calls, knock on doors, and host local events. Learn more about supporting the effort to allow adult-use cannabis sales in Colorado Springs.