Colorado Public Radio
Daily marijuana purchase limits would have doubled under a bill making its way through the Colorado legislature, with proponents claiming it will help a financially troubled industry.
The bill passed out of the state House over the objections of law enforcement, psychiatric groups, and concerned parents — all worried it will increase diversion to the black market.
A mother, Sharon Alvarez, recounted to lawmakers earlier this month how her 16-year-old son was addicted to high-potency marijuana and was in a diversion program for theft. In emotional testimony, she said she was tormented by where his life was heading.
“We have tried many programs to help him to no avail,” said Alvarez. “He has been suspended from school twice this year for being caught with THC vapes on school property. I used to wonder how he could get his hands on his drugs, these are dispensary products. My son has never stepped into a dispensary.”
The bill’s sponsors countered that school surveys show marijuana use has actually declined since legalization. The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey showed 12.8 percent of high schoolers reported using marijuana in the last month, down significantly from 2019, when 20.6 percent of high school students reported marijuana use.
Lawmakers ultimately were not ready to change the limits, and amended the bill to remove the increase.
House Bill 1209 is titled “Marijuana Regulation Streamline,” and it’s largely designed to reduce some of the extraordinary regulatory burden faced by marijuana growers and sellers. Bill sponsors admitted it was complex and technical, but would reduce unnecessary costs on a cash-strapped industry.
Among the changes: it would lessen the number of cameras required in cannabis businesses. Lawmakers were surprised at the number of cameras required when they toured grow houses, covering almost every square inch. The bill would also loosen some background check requirements for workers, and digitize part of the process.
Read more at
https://www.cpr.org/2025/03/24/raise-daily-marijuana-purchase-limits-bill-advances/
