Lawmakers approve later hours for Denver marijuana shops

Did you miss the webinar “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling?” Head to MJBiz YouTube to watch it now!


Marijuana retail stores in Denver will be able to stay open an additional three hours, until 10 p.m., starting May 1.

Extending the closing time from 7 p.m. may prove profitable for Denver’s marijuana businesses. Shop owners in Colorado’s largest city have complained they are at a competitive disadvantage because retailers in other parts of the state – including municipalities adjacent to Denver – are permitted by state law to stay open until midnight.

The Denver City County voted 11-2 Monday to approve the later store hours, Denverite reported.

The council bandied about several amendments that would have limited the longer hours. But Councilwoman Kendra Black said the lawmakers ultimately settled on 10 p.m. because it’s more convenient for consumers, according to the news outlet.

Meanwhile, city officials still are wrestling with establishing rules for cannabis consumption areas that the city’s voters approved last November.