Five Things to Know About Legal Marijuana in Colorado

by The Associated Press

Colorado has become the first state to adopt regulations for recreational marijuana businesses, which are expected to open at the beginning of next year.

The rules released this week by the state Department of Revenue cover everything from pot-shop licensing to marijuana packaging and advertising. Here are five things to know about the regulations:

OPEN YOUR CHECKBOOK

Pot store applications cost up to $5,000; operating licenses cost from $2,750 to $14,000; anyone wanting to sell both medical and recreational marijuana would pay double those amounts. Sales are legal starting Jan. 1.

SEED TO SALE

Colorado will require video surveillance and online inventory tracking of all plants as they grow and are prepared, packaged and sold to customers.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Successful business applicants must pass a gantlet of criminal background checks to weed out recent drug felons and people with possible ties to criminal drug cartels. Everyone in the industry, from shop owners to “bud-tenders,” must reside in Colorado.

HOW MUCH

Adults over 21 can grow up to six plants or buy up to one ounce of pot in retail stores. Medical patients can buy up to two ounces. Out-of-state visitors would be limited to one-fourth of an ounce per retail transaction, though they could legally possess the full ounce. They cannot take it home with them.

PACKAGING

Marijuana will be placed into child-resistant packages before leaving the store. Labels will list the pot’s potency and any non-organic pesticides or fungicides used.