Important points for Red Card holders

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• You must be 21:
  • It’s illegal for people under 21 to buy, have or use retail marijuana.
  • It’s a felony for anyone to give or sell to, or share marijuana with, anyone under 21.
  • You must present a valid ID proving you’re 21 or older.
• Limits to buying:
  • Buy retail marijuana only from licensed retail stores.
  • Adults over the age of 21 can buy and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana at a time.
  • Medical Marijuana Liscense holders can possess up to 2 ounces of medical Marijuana at a time.
• Limits to selling:
  • Only licensed retailers can sell marijuana products.
  • Adults over 21 can give up to 2 ounces of marijuana to another adult 21 or older but can’t sell marijuana. This includes homegrown products.

Colorado Law SB19-093

Concerning firearm possession by persons who lawfully use medical marijuana.

Current law prohibits a person from carrying a firearm if the person has a prior conviction for a felony or conspiracy to commit a felony pursuant to Colorado law, the law of any other state, or federal law. 

The bill clarifies that a person is not prohibited from carrying a firearm if the prior conviction was for the possession or use of marijuana that was lawfully possessed or used pursuant to the Colorado constitution.

Under current law, a sheriff may deny an application for a permit to carry a concealed handgun when the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Colorado or federal law or the applicant is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance, as defined by federal law or regulation. 

The bill clarifies that a person is not considered to be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to federal law nor considered to be an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance because of the possession or use of medical marijuana pursuant to the Colorado constitution.

The bill clarifies that the department of public safety is prohibited from sharing confidential information relating to the medical marijuana registry with law enforcement for the purpose of conducting a background check related to the transfer of firearms.

For occasional consumers, using 10 mg or more of THC is likely to cause impairment. This impacts your ability to drive, bike or perform other safety-sensitive activities.

People may think that they’re “safer” drivers while stoned. However, research shows that driving while high may increase your risk of a crash since your reaction time is slower and your understanding of distance and speed is different. If you’re high, you shouldn’t drive, bike or operate machinery. 

• Smoking:
  • Wait at least six hours after smoking up to 35 mg of THC before driving or biking. If you’ve smoked more than 35 mg, wait longer.
• Eating or drinking:
  • Wait at least eight hours after eating or drinking up to 18 mg of THC before driving or biking. If you’ve consumed more than 18 mg, wait longer.
• Marijuana affects individuals differently.  
  • These times are estimates based on research findings. If you’re unsure how marijuana will affect you, make other plans for transportation or don't drive.
• Multiple substances:
  • Using alcohol and marijuana at the same time is likely to result in greater impairment than either one alone.

Keep it in Colorado.

• Leaving the state with any marijuana product is against the law. 
• You can’t bring marijuana to Denver International Airport or any other airport.
• Not in federal parks or on federal land:
  • Since marijuana is still illegal under federal law, you can’t use it on federal land, including national parks and national forests. This includes ski slopes.

• No more than 2 ounces:
  • Adults 21 and older can have up to 2 ounces of marijuana. Having more can result in legal charges and fines. 
• Public use is illegal:
  • Using marijuana in any way — smoking, eating or vaping — isn’t allowed in public places. This includes the following outdoor and indoor areas,  and many more:
    • Sidewalks. 
    • Parks and amusement parks.
    • Ski resorts.
    • Concert venues.
    • Businesses.
    • Restaurants, cafes or bars.
    • Common areas of apartment buildings or condominiums.
• Use on federal land is illegal:
  • Since marijuana is still illegal under federal law, you can’t use on federal land, including national parks and national forests. This includes ski slopes.
• Where you CAN use:
  • Private property is your best bet. However, property owners can ban the use and possession of marijuana on their properties. If you rent, you may not be allowed to use marijuana in your home.
  • Hotel owners can ban the use and possession of marijuana on their properties, so you may not be able to use in a hotel room. Be sure to research the places you’ll be staying in Colorado. 

A 15% retail sales tax at the point of sale and a 15 percent excise tax was added to the wholesale price of retail marijuana (between cultivators and businesses).

• These taxes don’t apply to medical marijuana. Which is taxed at 2.9%

• Marijuana use during pregnancy is unsafe and may have legal consequences.
  
  • Some hospitals test babies after birth for drugs. If your baby tests positive for THC at birth, hospitals may choose to notify child protective services.
  • Talk to your doctor early in your pregnancy about any marijuana use and safer alternatives if you were using it to help with nausea.

• Despite legalization, employers can still test for marijuana and make employment decisions based on drug test results. Be sure you know your workplace policies before you use.

Driving while impaired is illegal and unsafe.

Getting high before you drive can get you arrested for a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. This is true even though marijuana use is legal for adults in Colorado.

• Similar to alcohol, there’s an established impairment level for marijuana in Colorado.      
  • By law, drivers with 5 nanograms of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per milliliter of whole blood can be prosecuted for DUI.
• Even if marijuana is used medically, officers can arrest you for impaired driving.
• No open containers:
  • Neither drivers nor passengers are allowed to open any marijuana packaging and use the product while in a vehicle, even if you are not moving.
  • You can be charged with a traffic offense if the marijuana product seal has been broken, some of the product has been consumed and there’s evidence that it was used in the car.

 The effects of marijuana use can be different for everyone. Common effects may include:

• A happy, relaxed or “high” feeling.
• Slower reactions and hand/eye coordination.
• Distorted perceptions of time and distance.
• Trouble thinking, learning and remembering.
• Anxiety, panic or paranoia.
• Faster heart rate.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Less interest in normal activities.
• Increased appetite.
• Dry mouth.
• Red eyes.
• Psychosis — seeing or hearing things that aren't real (more common with higher doses of THC).

These effects typically last two to four hours after marijuana is smoked or inhaled. When marijuana is eaten, the effects take longer to start and may last four to 10 hours. Marijuana can vary in its potency, or strength, depending on the plant and extraction process. 

The symptoms of using too much marijuana are similar to the typical effects of using marijuana, but more severe. These symptoms may include:

• Extreme confusion, anxiety, panic or paranoia.
• Fast heart rate.
• Hallucinations or delusions.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Severe nausea and vomiting.

Increasing numbers of people are going to the emergency room after using marijuana, possibly because they used too much. This may happen because they:

• Thought a marijuana product was regular food.
• Used a product with more THC than they thought, either because they’re using marijuana for the first time or trying a high-THC product.
• Consumed homemade edibles without a clear understanding of the THC content.
• Consumed more marijuana edibles than they needed since they didn’t feel the effects right away. The effects of marijuana edibles may take up to four hours to peak after ingesting.

If you or someone you know has any of the symptoms above, call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 for free, fast, expert help anytime. If the symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room.

• Marijuana is usually smoked in cigarettes (joints), pipes or water pipes (bongs), vaporized (vaped) or dabbed.
• Marijuana can be consumed in food or drink products called edibles.
• It also can be used through tinctures, creams, oils, suppositories, or inhalers.
• Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive odor, often referred to as sweet-and-sour or skunky.
• The primary active ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that makes you feel “high.”
• Typical marijuana plants contain more than 400 chemicals, including about 60 that can interact with the body’s nervous system.
• Marijuana also can be contaminated with mold, insecticides or other chemicals. The health effects of many of these chemicals are still being studied. 
• Currently, retail marijuana is tested for THC concentration, consistency, and contaminants. 
  • All marijuana products must have labels listing any chemicals that were used during growing or production, and whether the product has been tested for contaminants. Products that haven’t been tested for contaminants must be labeled as “not tested.”
• Contaminant testing includes microbials, heavy metals, solvents, pesticides and mold. All legal retail and medical marijuana products must pass state laboratory testing on all contaminants before sale. 

• THC concentration (often called ‘potency’) means the content or amount of THC in a marijuana product. Concentration is usually seen on the label as percent (%) THC or milligrams (mg) THC. People can purchase marijuana products in a variety of concentrations. Some of these products contain significantly more THC than other products.
  • Be aware of the concentration you’re purchasing or ask before using someone else's product to avoid accidentally consuming too much.
  • A 2020 study conducted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on the THC concentration of Marijuana in Colorado.
    • Findings include that symptoms like psychosis — seeing or hearing things that aren't real — are more common with higher doses of THC.

Synthetic marijuana, also known as spice or K2, is not a natural product. It's made of dried plant material sprayed with chemicals and may cause:

• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
• Drowsiness.
• Agitation.
• Hallucinations.
• Seizures.
• Tremors (shaking).
• Vomiting.
• Paranoia.
• Loss of physical control.
• Coma.

• Retail marijuana sellers use many of the same types of marijuana as those for medical marijuana. However, different rules apply to each type of retailer.
• There are a number of different strains of marijuana. Some strains have lower levels of THC and higher levels of other chemicals believed to help with certain medical conditions.

 Being high or buzzed while doing some activities can be risky. For occasional consumers, smoking, eating or drinking even one serving (10 mg) of marijuana is likely to cause impairment. This affects your ability to drive, bike or perform other safety-sensitive activities.

Impairment

• The effects of marijuana peak just minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke or vapor.
• Wait at least six hours after smoking less than 35 mg THC before driving or biking. If you have smoked more than 35 mg, wait longer.
• The effects can peak up to four hours after eating or drinking marijuana and can last up to 10 hours.
• Wait at least eight hours after eating or drinking less than 18 mg of THC before driving, biking or performing other safety-sensitive activities. If you have consumed more than 18 mg of THC, wait longer.

Safety

• Being high while caring for a baby isn’t safe.
• Don’t let anyone who’s impaired take care of your baby.
• If you plan to use marijuana, make sure there is another person around who is not using it and can safely care for your children. 
• Some marijuana can make people feel very sleepy when they’re high. 
• Marijuana can make you sleep harder.
• It’s not safe for your baby to sleep with you, especially if you’re high. 
• It’s not safe to drive a car while high.
• Don’t let yourself or a loved one ride in a car if the driver is high.
• Ask your marijuana retailer for more information if you’re not sure about how to use a product safely and responsibly. 

Getting help after using too much

• Eating or drinking too much marijuana can make people very sick.   
  • They may have problems walking or sitting up, have a hard time breathing, or start to feel sleepy.
  • Adults may become very paranoid or irritable.
• If you’re worried about someone, call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 as soon as possible. Calling is free and you’ll be helped quickly.
• If a reaction seems bad, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away.