SB 18-279

Senate Bill 18-279, titled "Marijuana Certification Technology," allows Colorado State University-Pueblo to develop a system that can verify if marijuana was legally grown and sold. This technology would involve marking the plants or products with an agent that can be scanned by a device to confirm legality. Once developed, the state licensing authority will decide whether this technology should become mandatory for all licensed marijuana businesses. Law enforcement agencies could also use this scanning technology to help combat illegal marijuana sales. The bill has been signed into law and is now in effect.

Official Summary

The bill allows the institute of cannabis research at Colorado state university - Pueblo (institute) to develop marijuana certification technology (technology). The technology must include an agent that is applied to a marijuana plant or marijuana product and then scanned by a device. The scan, at a minimum, would indicate whether the marijuana was legally cultivated, manufactured, or sold by a licensed marijuana business. The institute may select a vendor to develop the technology. After the technology is developed, the state licensing authority must be satisfied that the technology provides an effective means of certifying marijuana. After the state licensing authority determines the technology is effective, it may promulgate rules that require the technology to be used by licensed marijuana businesses. The technology that scans the marijuana must be made available to law enforcement and the department of revenue. The bill clarifies that the gray and black market marijuana enforcement grant program could award grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase the marijuana scanning technology. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More