Independent Operator Social Equity Licensee

To begin the process, Applicants must FIRST submit a Natural Person Finding of Suitability Application. Fingerprints are required with the submission of the Suitability application which you can get by either:

• Making an in-person appointment; select the "Regulated Business License Social Equity Program Applicant" option within the "Regulated Business Licensing" section of the scheduling program.
   
• Or, prior to submitting your application,  visit a Colorado State-Approved Third-Party Fingerprint Provider to have your fingerprints taken and include the fingerprint receipt with your application packet. Visit the Business Owner webpage for additional information.

The State Licensing Authority will not deny an application for a Social Equity License or a related request for a Finding of Suitability on the sole basis of a marijuana conviction.

Once your Finding of Suitability is approved, MED will send you an approval letter.  You have two years from the date of the letter to apply for a Regulated Marijuana Business License by submitting the Regulated Marijuana Business - Social Equity Program Application. Visit the Regulated Marijuana Business License webpage for more information. 

Note that the current rules allow for reduced Social Equity application and license fees - see page 9 of the Emergency Fee Rules, effective July 1, 2023. 

When submitting the business application, applicants seeking to independently operate a Regulated Marijuana Business (outside of the Accelerator Program) may select from any of the Medical and Retail Marijuana Business licenses issued by the MED, subject to local licensing authority requirements, restrictions, and prohibitions.

Colorado state statute authorizes the State Licensing Authority to issue the following Regulated Marijuana Business Licenses:

• Medical Marijuana Store License allows the holder to operate a business that sells Medical Marijuana to Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry Patients and Transporting Caregivers, as described in 44-10-501C.R.S.
   
• Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility License allows the holder to operate a cultivation business to grow and harvest Medical Marijuana, as described in 44-10-502C.R.S.
   
• Medical Marijuana Products Manufacturer License allows the holder to operate a business that produces Medical Marijuana Products such as edibles, concentrates or tinctures. These licensees are only authorized to wholesale their products to MED-licensed Medical Marijuana Centers as described in 44-10-503 C.R.S.
   
• Medical Marijuana Testing Facility License allows the holder to operate a facility that conducts potency and contaminants testing and research for MED Medical Marijuana business licenses as described in 44-10-504 C.R.S.
   
• Medical Marijuana Transporter License allows the holder to provide transportation and temporary storage services to MED Licensed Medical Marijuana Businesses as described in 44-10-505 C.R.S.
   
• Medical Marijuana Business Operator License allows the holder to provide professional operational services to one or more MED Licensed Medical Marijuana Businesses as described in 44-10-506 C.R.S.
   
• Medical Marijuana Research and Development License allows the holder to grow, cultivate possess and transfer marijuana for use in research only as described in 44-10-507 C.R.S.
• Retail Marijuana Store License allows the holder to operate a business that sells Retail Marijuana to an individual twenty-one years of age or older as described in 44-10-601 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility License allows the holder to operate a facility to grow and harvest Retail Marijuana plants as described in 44-10-602 C.R.S.
• Retail Marijuana Product Manufacturer License allows the holder to operate a facility that manufactures retail marijuana-infused products such as edibles, concentrates or tinctures as described in 44-10-603 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Testing Facility License allows the holder to operate a facility that conducts potency and contaminants testing for other MED Licensed Retail Marijuana businesses as described in 44-10-604 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Transporter License allows the holder to provide transportation and temporary storage services to Retail Marijuana Businesses as described in 44-10-605 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Operator License allows the holder to provide professional operational services to one or more Retail Marijuana Businesses as described in 44-10-606 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Accelerator Cultivator License allows the holder to operate a retail marijuana product manufacturing operation on the site of a retail marijuana products manufacturing facility with an accelerator endorsement as described in 44-10-607 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Accelerator Manufacture License allows the holder to operate a retail marijuana product manufacturing operation on the site of a retail marijuana product manufacturing facility with an accelerator endorsement as described in 44-10-608 C.R.S.
   
• Marijuana Hospitality Business License allows the holder to operate a premise in which marijuana may be consumed as described in 44-10-609 C.R.S.
   
• Retail Marijuana Hospitality and Sales Business License allow the holder to operate licensed premises within which marijuana may be sold and consumed as described in 44-10-610 C.R.S.

Each facility is authorized to engage only in the type of activity for which it is licensed and as described in statute.