Colorado Committee Approves Bill to Allow Temporary Marijuana Consumption Events
- The Colorado House committee advanced House Bill 1117, which would allow licensed marijuana hospitality businesses to host temporary on-site consumption events for adults 21 and older.
- The bill proposes creating a temporary hospitality event permit, requiring businesses to apply 30 days in advance and prohibits marijuana sales or giveaways during events.
- Events would need local government approval with strict requirements including site plans, security, odor control, and waste management, and would be limited to 72 hours with no more than 15 events per year.
- The legislation exempts licensed temporary event consumption from public consumption laws, allows regulatory inspections, and would take effect on January 4, 2027, if passed.
A Colorado House committee has advanced legislation that would create a new path for licensed marijuana hospitality businesses to host temporary events where adults 21 and older could legally consume marijuana on-site. House Bill 1117, filed in February by Representative Naquetta Ricks (D), was approved by the House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor in a 7 to 5 vote. The measure now moves to the Finance Committee for further consideration.
The proposal would establish a temporary hospitality event permit for businesses that already hold an active marijuana hospitality business license and remain in good standing with the state. If approved, those businesses could organize short-term marijuana consumption events, but the bill makes clear that marijuana could not be sold or given away at the event itself.
In order to qualify, a business would need to apply with the state licensing authority at least 30 days before its first event. The application would need to include key details such as which licensees are participating and how the business would comply with state marijuana laws during the event.
The bill would also require approval at the local level through a separate event premises permit. That means state approval alone would not be enough. A city or county would first need to allow these events through local law, and then approve the specific venue. Local applications would need to include a site plan as well as security, odor-control and waste-management plans.
The legislation places several limits on how these events could operate. A temporary event could last no more than 72 consecutive hours, and a permit holder could host no more than 15 events per year. Alcohol sales would not be allowed at the event site during the event, and the premises would need to remain restricted to those 21 and older.
Another key provision says marijuana consumption at a properly licensed temporary event would not be considered open and public consumption under Colorado law, so long as the area is controlled, not visible to the public, and operated in compliance with applicable safety and air-quality requirements.
The measure also gives state and local regulators authority to inspect events and enforce compliance. Permits could be suspended, revoked or denied renewal if violations occur.
If approved by the full legislature and signed into law, the bill would take effect January 4, 2027, with the state then able to begin accepting permit applications.