Marijuana Licensing

Important Marijuana Business Licensing Notices

Under the terms of the recent voter-initiated ordinance (Question 300), beginning 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.  The application form to add an RMJ license to an existing MMJ licensed location is available in the application grid below, which can be completed and submitted to the City Clerk’s Office with the required non-refundable fee beginning February 10, 2025.   The City Clerk’s Office cannot accept any applications or payments prior to February 10, 2025.

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. 

Pursuant to City Council Resolution 02-25, the updated Marijuana Business Fee Schedule becomes effective on February 1, 2025.  Any Marijuana Business applications, including MMJ renewal applications, received after that date will require payment of the new effective fee.

Marijuana Business Location Cap

The City of Colorado Springs has a cap on licensed marijuana business locations.  In summary, the terms of the cap are as follows:

• The City of Colorado Springs cannot accept any new Medical Marijuana Store applications.
• New Retail Marijuana license types can be added to only to existing licensed Medical Marijuana locations with the same corresponding existing type (cannot increase the number of licensed locations).
• New Medical Marijuana Cultivation license and Medical Marijuana Product Manufacturer 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).
• Change of Location applications for all marijuana business license types can only be accepted if the requested change of location does not create an additional location. One of the following conditions must apply:
  • All marijuana business licenses at the prior location also change location to the same appropriately zoned new location; or
  • One existing license may move to a new location if all remaining Marijuana business license(s) at the prior location will also change location to another existing marijuana business licensed and appropriately zoned facility with 100% common ownership; or
  • All remaining marijuana business license(s) at the prior location are surrendered.
• Surrender or Revocation of any existing marijuana business license(s) does not create any opportunity for new licensed locations.
• Marijuana Testing Facility license type (maximum of two locations), are allowed to be located in appropriately zoned locations in Colorado Springs.  There must be an existing Medical Marijuana Testing Facility licensed location in order to add a Retail Marijuana Testing Facility license (to be co-located).

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

Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for more information regarding 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.