Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses has proposed a suite of changes to the city’s cannabis rules—a possible overhaul that’s been two years in the making, according to local stakeholders. 

For one thing, the city may opt into a state law that allows cannabis deliveries. The city may also enshrine permanent drive-thru sales, a follow-up to last year’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and the industry’s pivot to curbside retail pickup.

The proposed set of rules landed in the city’s Finance and Governance Committee on March 2. Further debate is expected over the next few weeks. 

The immediate upshot is that, if approved, this overarching plan would see the city accepting license applications for cultivation, manufacturing and retail cannabis businesses for the first time since 2016. If that comes to pass, it would give the city of Denver a chance to highlight a new stance on social equity in the business.

“What we are recommending is six years exclusivity for all marijuana license types, for social equity applicants,” Ashley Kilroy, the city’s executive director of excise and licenses, told ABC 7. “In Denver, we have been the leader in successfully and safely regulating marijuana and we’re really looking forward to this program to position us as a leader in licensing social equity applicants.”

Looking further ahead, the proposal includes preparation this year for an expansion of the state’s hemp licensing program in 2022.

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