Marijuana Regulation In Colorado (2016)

Colorado voters legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2000 and retail marijuana in 2012 through amendments to the Colorado Constitution. This issue brief provides an overview of current state law and regulations pertaining to medical and retail marijuana, and discusses the role of local governments in regulating marijuana. The federal government considers all marijuana to be a Schedule I controlled substance with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. As such, the federal government does not have a direct role in marijuana regulation.