SB 18-029

Senate Bill 18-029 in Colorado requires a research institute at Colorado State University-Pueblo to develop special technology for tracking marijuana and industrial hemp. This technology will involve applying an agent to plants or products that can be scanned to verify if they come from licensed businesses. Once the state licensing authority approves this technology, it will become mandatory for all licensed marijuana businesses and registered hemp cultivators to use it. Law enforcement agencies will also have access to this scanning technology, which could help them identify illegal activities in the market. The bill has been signed into law, meaning that these requirements are now official and will be implemented as described.

Official Summary

The bill requires the institute of cannabis research at Colorado state university - Pueblo (institute) to develop marijuana tracking technology (technology). The technology must include an agent that is applied to a marijuana plant, marijuana product, industrial hemp, or industrial hemp product and then scanned by a device. The scan, at a minimum, would indicate whether the marijuana or hemp was cultivated, manufactured, or sold by a licensed marijuana business or registered hemp cultivator. The institute shall 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 tracking marijuana. After the state licensing authority determines the technology is an effective means of tracking marijuana, it shall promulgate rules that require the technology to be used by licensed marijuana businesses, and the commissioner of the department of agriculture shall promulgate rules that require registered industrial hemp cultivators to use the technology. 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