Information About City of Boulder Medical Marijuana Business Licenses
How to apply for a Medical Marijuana Business License and related resources.
If you would like your email added to the Marijuana routing group, please email: LicensingOnline@bouldercolorado.gov with your request and email address.
Medical Marijuana Businesses Overview
- Our Boulder Revised Code states that persons or locations with over six plants or 2 ounces of product become a business under our local code and each business in our city limits must have a valid and compliant city Medical Marijuana Business (MMB) license, along with a state license from the State Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, to legally operate in the City of Boulder.
- The Medical Marijuana Business (MMB) ordinance can be found in Boulder Revised Code Chapter 6-14
Conversion and Co-location Application Process
In accordance with Boulder Revised Code Chapter 6-14, Medical Marijuana Business (MMB) owners who are currently compliant are able to file 100 percent conversions, and co-location applications, whether via physical separation or virtual separation, of both MMB and RMB in their current business licensed footprint.
Those MMB businesses which were compliant and open on Oct. 22, 2013 are eligible for 100 percent conversions to RMB licenses.
MMBs in mixed use development locations with residential units open as of Oct. 22, 2013 are not eligible for the license conversion or co-location processing.
A person may only hold an ownership percentage interest in up to 3 RMB dispensaries or MMB wellness centers, whether single use or dual use, and there is no limit in the number of licenses which a person may hold an interest in for MIP licenses for MMB/RMB products or Grow locations for either MMB or RMB Greenhouses.
An additional city excise tax of 5 percent was approved by vote for RMB Grow locations and an added city 3.5 percent sales and use tax was approved by vote for RMB dispensary, MIP, and Testing locations. Payment of this city tax will be required for continued RMB license compliance.
A pre-scheduled, in-person filing appointment is required for filing of conversion or co-location applications. Necessary documents are included separately here in the links to the right. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
MMB New Applications, License Maintenance, and Annual Renewals
For New MMB applications, Transfer applications, and Change of Locations applications, an in-person intake meeting is required with Licensing staff.
For MMB Business Entity/Trade Name, City Keyholder, Stock/Share sales and Renewal filings, the applications, attachments, and fees can be mailed in.
License maintenance applications, such as ownership changes or officer changes, must be filed at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the proposed change.
Minor modifications for premise modifications may be proceeded with as soon as the complete application is filed with City Licensing.
Major modifications for premise modifications must be inspected and approved by the city before the modification space may be used for business purposes.
City keyholder changes should be filed 30 days prior to the proposed new person acting as a keyholder, unless a complete application and fees is submitted to the city, which also includes a copy of the new person’s state key badge.
MMB License renewals must be filed at least 45 days prior to the license expiration date or a substantial city late fee is required.
How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Business License
Register for a City of Boulder Customer Self Service Portal Account
Complete Application Packet
Locate the requested Medical Marijuana Business (MMB) Application Packet in the Medical Marijuana Business Application Documents section below.
Please note that specific instructions for each application type will be located within the packets.
Apply & Pay Online
The method for applying and paying online is unique to the type of application. See the options below.
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Keyholder
As of September 1, 2021, the City of Boulder's process to receive city keyholder information from marijuana licensed businesses will change as follows
- The marijuana business owner (not the new keyholder) will fully complete the new city keyholder application packet. No fees will be required.
- The marijuana business owner (not the new keyholder) will email the completed application in pdf format to the main Licensing email address of: LicensingOnline@bouldercolorado.gov
- City Licensing staff will receive the email attachment and will attach that page in any level of completeness to the applicable city marijuana license entry
- City Licensing staff will only detail review city keyholder list at the time of city license renewal, and at the time of renewal, we will delete all city keyholders from our records who are not listed on the page submitted with the city renewal.
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Renewal, Corporate/LLC Change, Minor Modification, Trade/Business Name Change
Submit completed application and payment online through the City of Boulder Customer Self-Service Portal.
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New, Transfer, Major Modification
Please request a secure folder to upload your application
Once submit, an invoice will be created and able to pay online using the Customer Self Service Portal.
Schedule Your Inspection
For Renewals, Major Modifications and New Licenses
Have Questions?
The Regulatory Licensing Division holds virtual application clinics every Wednesday morning, which you may attend via call in to ask questions;
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for Marijuana license application questions
Call: 412-912-4129 and enter conf ID: 246 433 393 59#
passcode: 7krr4g
Microsoft Teams meeting
Or
Join on your computer or mobile app
Quarterly Marijuana Management & Inspection Meetings
All 2022 meetings will be held virtually via call in- instructions below until further notice
- 3rd Quarter 2022: Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 11:30 AM: Presentation and meeting access information
Cannabis Business Inspection Checklists
Boulder Safe Sales Classes
Classes consist of PowerPoint instruction about ID confiscation, hands-on experience with confiscated IDs, and videos of ID confiscations.
Registration and payment are completed through the Eventbrite. Class registration opens on the Eventbrite website two weeks prior to each class and will remain open until the class is filled.
*** Class prerequisite: Students must complete the Basic Class before taking the Advanced Class.
Cost: $30 per person
Class limit: 30 people
Location: Boulder Police Department, 1805 33rd Street, Boulder, CO. 80301
Instructors: Officer Rebecca Bostrack and Russ Wright
Students must arrive 15 minutes early to the lobby of the Boulder Police Department to be escorted to the training room. Please allow time to find parking.
*** Latecomers will not be admitted.
Supplies are provided.
Management-level employees may attend classes for free as a refresher if they previously completed the Basic and Advanced classes. In this circumstance, please do not register through the Eventbrite website, but only email Officer Rebecca Bostrack as a courtesy.
Stores outside of the City of Boulder register employees for classes through the Eventbrite website. In this circumstance, please also email Officer Rebecca Bostrack as a courtesy.
City of Boulder liquor licensees may attend the Advanced Class, but not the Basic Class, and register through the Eventbrite website.
2021 Schedule:
- December 13: Basic Class 10am-12pm (arrive in lobby at 9:45am)
- December 20: Advanced Class 10am – 12pm (arrive in lobby at 9:45am)
COVID update: Boulder County is in the Clear level of COVID restrictions. State mask requirements mean that masks are required inside the Boulder Police Department for unvaccinated individuals while not eating or drinking, and masks are optional for fully vaccinated individuals while inside the Boulder Police Department.