Colorado Hemp & CBD Law
In order to be successful, a company must be compliant with local, state, and federal hemp statutes and regulations. Colorado has extensive, changing, and complicated regulations for all stages of the hemp industry.
*The information on this page regarding Colorado law is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.
Hemp in Colorado
In 2012, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 which, in addition to legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, established a legal framework for the modern hemp industry.
Under this amendment, the definition hemp was exempted from marijuana and allowed for a separate regulatory scheme. In 2013, the legislature created the Colorado commercial hemp industry, requiring applications and restricting crop growth.
With the exception of some minor changes, the hemp regulation stayed the same until 2018 when Colorado voters approved Amendment X, removing the definition of industrial hemp from the language of the constitution, as originally passed in Amendment 64.
Later that year, the federal government enacted the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the “2018 Farm Bill”) removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and requiring the United States Department of Agriculture to establish the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. For more information on the federal legal framework, see our federal law page.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, States must submit their regulatory plans for USDA approval. Colorado plans to continue operating under the 2014 Farm Bill pilot program through the 2021 cultivation season.
With hemp businesses going national, and all fifty states likely regulating hemp differently, compliance with applicable law is imperative to business success.
Hemp Cultivation and
Purchases from Colorado Farmers
The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) regulates the cultivation of hemp in the state of Colorado. Additionally, anyone purchasing farm products from a Colorado farmer for the purposes of resale MUST obtain a license (Farm Products Dealer / Commodity Handler) from CDA.
Let us get you licensed and keep you compliant. Schedule your free consult here.
Ingestible Hemp Products Processing,
Manufacturing, and Storage.
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) regulates the extraction, manufacture, and storage of ingestible hemp products (food / dietary supplements) in the state of Colorado.
Let us get you licensed and keep you compliant.