(Joe Amon, Denver Post file)

Denver medical marijuana license backlog cleared by deadline

Denver cannabis authorities had a quiet day Tuesday, as all of the straggling medical-marijuana businesses still needing a license either got one or closed by the July 1 deadline.

City officials had warned dozens of businesses that they could be forcibly shut down if they failed to get a license by July 1. As of a month ago, there were still 41 businesses — mostly cultivation facilities, but also infused-products makers — needing a license.

But Denver spokeswoman Amber Miller said Tuesday that all the businesses on the list either got licensed or closed in time. One business finalized its license Monday afternoon; the last remaining business closed late Monday.


Municipal regulations: How are other Colorado communities addressing legal marijuana?


“We’re pleased that the businesses all worked to come into compliance, either way,” Miller said.

In order to operate, marijuana businesses in Colorado need both a state and local license. Some businesses that were already open when the licensing requirement went into place in 2010, though, were allowed to remain open while their license applications were pending.

While the state has been whittling down its backlog, Denver authorities set a July 1 deadline for all medical-marijuana businesses in the city to have a local license. Many of the straggling unlicensed businesses were connected to storefronts that were already licensed.

Denver has roughly 600 medical-marijuana businesses, including stores, cultivation facilities and infused-products makers.

John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johningold

This story was first published on DenverPost.com