SB 23-265

Senate Bill 23-265, which was recently signed into law in Colorado, protects individuals from being denied a professional license or facing disciplinary actions based on their past legal marijuana activities. This means that if someone has been involved with consuming, possessing, cultivating, or processing marijuana legally in Colorado and it didn’t violate any other laws or professional standards, they cannot be penalized for it when applying for or maintaining a professional license. The law is now effective, meaning it’s currently protecting professionals across the state from such discrimination.

Official Summary

The act protects an individual applying for licensure, certification, or registration in a profession or occupation in Colorado (applicant), as well as a professional who is currently licensed, certified, or registered in a profession or occupation in Colorado (licensee), from having the license, certification, or registration denied to the applicant, or from discipline being imposed against the licensee, based solely on: A civil or criminal judgment against the applicant or licensee regarding the consumption, possession, cultivation, or processing of marijuana, if the underlying actions were lawful and consistent with professional conduct and standards of care within Colorado and did not otherwise violate Colorado law; or Previous professional disciplinary action concerning an applicant's or a licensee's professional licensure in this or any other state or United States territory, if the professional disciplinary action was based solely on the applicant's or licensee's consumption, possession, cultivation, or processing of marijuana and the applicant or licensee did not otherwise violate Colorado law. APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 24, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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