State Law Tracker · Colorado

Cannabis and hemp law in Colorado

In Colorado, recreational cannabis is legal, medical cannabis is legal, and delta-8 THC is banned.

Last verified October 24, 2026 · Last major change August 2026

RecreationalLegal MedicalLegal Delta-8Banned

Is recreational cannabis legal in Colorado?

Legal. Legal for 21+ since Amendment 64 (2012); retail since 2014.

Is medical cannabis legal in Colorado?

Legal. Voters approved medical marijuana (Amendment 20) in 2000; a 2026 law (SB26-007) lets health facilities allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana that is not smoked or vaped.

What are the rules for hemp products in Colorado?

Under SB23-271 (signed June 2023), intoxicating hemp products generally must be made and sold by state-licensed marijuana businesses; hemp products sold elsewhere are limited to 1.75 mg THC per serving.

Is delta-8 THC legal in Colorado?

Banned. Delta-8 made by converting hemp CBD may not be sold at general retail; state regulators barred such conversion in 2021, and SB23-271 lets them allow or ban it by rule.

What happens if you break the law in Colorado?

Adults 21+ may possess up to 2 oz; possessing more than 2 oz is a drug misdemeanor, with higher penalties for larger amounts.

Sources

  1. leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb23-271
  2. www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/19/colorado-could-soon-loosen-regulations-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-countering-new-federal-bans
  3. leg.colorado.gov/laws/session-laws/SB26-007/29/download
  4. norml.org/laws/colorado-penalties/
⚠︎ Federal law — affects every state A federal funding law signed in November 2025 (Public Law 119-37) narrows the legal definition of hemp, and a stopgap funding law signed September 2, 2026 (Public Law 119-103) split its start into two dates. On November 12, 2026, products containing cannabinoids that a cannabis plant cannot produce naturally, such as THC-O, fall outside it. The rest takes effect December 11, 2026, including the exclusion of chemically converted cannabinoids such as delta-8 made from CBD, a 0.3% limit measured as total THC (including THCA), and a limit of 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. State rules apply on top of the federal law. Sources: Public Law 119-103, Sec. 2019 · Congressional Research Service · Akerman LLP
Informational summary drawn from state statutes, official program pages, and published reporting — sources linked per state. Not legal advice. Laws change quickly; verify with official state sources before acting. Spot an error? Request a correction — we fix mistakes promptly.
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