Marijuana Licensing

Rulemaking/Revision Notice – Amendments to the Rules and Regulations for Marijuana Licensing

Pursuant to City Code §2.2.103(B), the Local Licensing Authority is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations including those governing the processing of marijuana license applications, the administration of licenses, and the conduct of hearings on marijuana business licensing matters.

In concert with both the pending City Marijuana License Code revisions with Marijuana Business Fee Schedule updates (available on the City Council agenda posted at https://coloradosprings.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx), the proposed amendments to the Regulated Marijuana Rules and Regulations for the City of Colorado Springs have been posted for public comment.

View the proposed amendments

Written public comments regarding the Regulated Marijuana Rules and Regulations for the City of Colorado Springs should be directed to the City Clerk’s Office via mail, email, fax, or in person by 5:00 P.M. Monday, February 3, 2025.

Under the terms of the recent voter-initiated ordinance (Issue 300), effective February 10, 2025 an existing City licensed medical marijuana (MMJ) business in good standing may apply for a City retail marijuana (RMJ) business license of the same type at the existing MMJ licensed location under specific eligibility criteria.  More information on the application process and forms will be posted here soon.  

An eligible MMJ licensee has three options regarding adding an RMJ license:

• An eligible applicant/licensee may add an RMJ license to co-locate its operations as both their existing MMJ and eligible new RMJ operations in the same licensed location and be considered one licensed location for the purposes of the cumulative cap on licensed marijuana locations.
• An existing MMJ licensee may elect to surrender its existing MMJ license(s) for the existing location conditioned on approval of eligible new RMJ business license(s) at the existing licensed location, however it is important to note that if an MMJ store/center license is surrendered there would be no opportunity to replace or re-apply for an MMJ store license in the future pursuant to City Code §2.2.104(D).
• An existing MMJ licensee may remain an MMJ only licensed facility without adding an RMJ license. 

The updated Marijuana Business Fee Schedule will become effective on February 1, 2025.  Any MMJ applications including renewal applications received after that date will require payment of the new effective fee.

Important Medical Marijuana (MMJ) Licensing Notices

The City of Colorado Springs moratorium on new Medical Marijuana (MMJ) license and Change of Location applications expires on May 25, 2017. 

At the March 28, 2017 City Council meeting, the City Council of the City of Colorado Springs passed the final reading of a Medical Marijuana (MMJ) Licensed Location Cap Ordinance 17-28.  In summary, this ordinance contains the following new provisions which will become effective on May 25, 2017:

• The City of Colorado Springs cannot accept any new Medical Marijuana Center (MMC) applications.
• Creates a “cumulative cap on licensed MMJ locations:”
• New Medical Marijuana Optional Premises Cultivation (OPC) license and Medical Marijuana Infused Product Manufacturer (MIP) license applications can only be accepted if the requested new license type(s) will be located in an existing MMJ licensed and appropriately zoned facility with 100% common ownership (cannot create an additional location).
• MMJ Change of Location applications for all three license types (MMC, OPC, and MIP) can only be accepted if the requested change of location does not create an additional location. One of the following conditions must apply:

1. All Medical Marijuana establishment licenses at the prior location also change location to the same appropriately zoned new location; or
2. The Medical Marijuana establishment license(s) will change location to an existing MMJ licensed and appropriately zoned facility with 100% common ownership; or
3. All remaining Medical Marijuana establishment licenses at the prior location are surrendered.

• Surrender or Revocation of any existing MMJ license(s) does not create any opportunity for new licensed locations.
• Creates a City Medical Marijuana Testing Facility license type (maximum of three), allowing Medical Marijuana Testing Facilities to be located in appropriately zoned locations in Colorado Springs (MMJ only, no RMJ Testing).

Modification of Premises and Transfer of Ownership applications for all MMJ types are still accepted/allowed pursuant to current MED and City MMJ Code and Rules.

As a reminder, the City of Colorado Springs prohibits any Retail/Recreational Marijuana Establishments (Ordinance 13-47).

Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information regarding Medical Marijuana Business Licensing, including Modification of Premises, Changes of Ownership, Change of Location, renewals, or more information regarding Marijuana  Testing Facility licensing at Lee.McRae@coloradosprings.gov or 719-385-5106.