Printer-friendly versionPENALTIES UNDER COLORADO LAW
| Colorado Revised Statute | Possession | Offense Level | Possible Jail Time | Possible Fine | Surcharge |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406 (1) | 1 oz or less | Class 2 Petty Offense | None | $100 | $100 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(2) | 1 oz or less, failure to appear | Class 3 Misdemeanor | 6 months | $50-$750 | $250 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(3)(a)(I) | Openly and publicly displays 1 oz or less | Class 2 Petty Offense | 15 days | $100 | $100 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(3)(a)(II) | Openly and publicly displays 1+ to 8 oz | Class 1 Misdemeanor | 6-18 months | $500-$5,000 | $600 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(4)(a)(I) | More than 1 oz but less than 8 oz | Class 1 Misdemeanor | 6-18 months | $500-$5,000 | $600 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(4)(a)(II) | More than 1 oz but less than 8 oz, with prior | Class 5 Felony | 1-3 years | $1,000-$100,000 | $1,125 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(4)(b)(I) | More than 8 oz | Class 5 Felony | 1-3 years | $1,000-$100,000 | $1,125 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(4)(b)(II) | Subsequent to a prior conviction under 18-18-406(5) | Class 4 Felony | 2-6 years | $2,000-$500,000 | $1,500 |
| Sale | |||||
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(5) | Less than 1 oz for no consideration is deemed mere possesion | ||||
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(7)(a) | More than 1 oz for consideration to a minor (15 to under 18 years) from an adult (18 years or older) | Class 4 Felony | 2-6 years | $2,000 - $500,000 | $1,500 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(7)(a) | Marihuana concentrate to a minor (15 to under 18 years) from an adult (18 years or older) | Class 4 Felony | 2-6 years | $2,000- $500,000 | $1,500 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(7)(b) | Any amount to a child (less than 15 years) from an adult (18 years or older) | Class 4 Felony | 2-6 years | $2,000 - $500,000 | $1,500 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(7)(C) | Subsequent to prior conviction under 18-18-406(7) | Class 3 Felony | 4-12 years | $3,000 - $750,000 | $3,000 |
| Cultivation | |||||
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(8)(a)(I)(II) | Cultivate, grow, produce, process, or manufacture any marihuana or marihuana concentrate | Class 4 Felony | 2-6 years | $2,000 - $500,000 | $1,500 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-406(8)(a)(I)(II)(B) | Subsequent to a prior conviction under 18-18-406(8) | Class 3 Felony | 4-12 years(4 years mandatory) | $3,000- $750,000 | $3,000 |
| C.R.S. 18-18-407 | Sale within 1,000 feet of school or public housing | Class 3 Felony | 4-12 years (4 years mandatory) | $3,000 - $750,000 | $3,000 |
| Paraphernalia Possession or Sale | |||||
| C.R.S. 18-18-427 | Possession of drug paraphernalia | Class 2 Petty Offense | None | $100 |
Colorado Revised Statutes 18-18-406 Offenses relating to marihuana and marihuana concentrate.
PART 4 OFFENSES AND PENALTIES
(1) Any person who possesses not more than one ounce of marihuana commits a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
(2) Whenever a person is arrested or detained for a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the arresting or detaining officer shall prepare a written notice or summons for such person to appear in court. The written notice or summons shall contain the name and address of such arrested or detained person, the date, time, and place where such person shall appear, and a place for the signature of such person indicating the person's written promise to appear on the date and at the time and place indicated on the notice or summons. One copy of said notice or summons shall be given to the person arrested or detained, one copy shall be sent to the court where the arrested or detained person is to appear, and such other copies as may be required by the law enforcement agency employing the arresting or detaining officer shall be sent to the places designated by such law enforcement agency. The date specified in the notice or summons to appear shall be at least five days after such arrest or detention unless the person arrested or detained demands an earlier hearing. The place specified in the notice or summons to appear shall be before a judge having jurisdiction of such class 2 petty offense within the county in which the class 2 petty offense charged is alleged to have been committed. The arrested or detained person, in order to secure release from arrest or detention, shall promise in writing to appear in court by signing the notice or summons prepared by the arresting or detaining officer. Any person who does not honor such written promise to appear commits a class 3 misdemeanor.
(3) (a) (I) Any person who openly and publicly displays, consumes, or uses not more than one ounce of marihuana commits a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished, at a minimum, by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars or, at a maximum, by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and, notwithstanding the provisions of section 18-1.3-503, by fifteen days in the county jail.
(II) Open and public display, consumption, or use of more than one ounce of marihuana or any amount of marihuana concentrate shall be deemed possession thereof, and violations shall be punished as provided for in subsection (4) of this section.
(b) Except as is otherwise provided for in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), consumption or use of marihuana or marihuana concentrate shall be deemed possession thereof, and violations shall be punished as provided for in subsections (1), (2), and (4) of this section.
(4) (a) Any person who possesses more than one ounce of marihuana but less than eight ounces of marihuana commits:
(I) A class 1 misdemeanor; or
(II) A class 5 felony, if the violation is committed subsequent to a prior conviction in this or any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of a violation to which this subsection (4) applies or would apply if convicted in this state.
(b) Any person who possesses eight ounces or more of marihuana or any amount of marihuana concentrate commits:
(I) A class 5 felony; or
(II) A class 4 felony, if the violation is committed subsequent to a prior conviction in this or any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of a violation to which this subsection (4) applies or would apply if convicted in this state.
(5) Transferring or dispensing not more than one ounce of marihuana from one person to another for no consideration shall be deemed possession and not dispensing or sale thereof.
(6) The court may utilize treatment, probation, and deferred prosecution or deferred sentencing for any person who violates subsection (4) of this section.
(7) (a) Any provision of this article to the contrary notwithstanding, any person eighteen years of age or older who transfers or dispenses more than one ounce of marihuana for consideration to any person under eighteen years of age but at least fifteen years of age or any amount of marihuana concentrate, with or without consideration, to another person under eighteen years of age commits a class 4 felony and, in addition to the punishment prescribed in section 18-1.3-401, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars. For offenses committed on or after July 1, 1985, the fine shall be in an amount within the presumptive range set out in section 18-1.3-401 (1) (a) (III).
(b) Any person eighteen years of age or older who transfers or dispenses any amount of marihuana, with or without consideration, to any person under the age of fifteen years commits a class 4 felony and, in addition to the punishment provided in section 18-1.3-401, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars. For offenses committed on or after July 1, 1985, the fine shall be in an amount within the presumptive range set out in section 18-1.3-401 (1) (a) (III).
(c) Any person commits a class 3 felony, if the violation is committed subsequent to a prior conviction in this or any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of a violation to which this subsection (7) applies or would apply if convicted in this state, and, in addition to the punishment provided in section 18-1.3-401, the court shall sentence the defendant to the department of corrections for at least the minimum term in the presumptive range. For offenses committed on or after July 1, 1985, the fine shall be in an amount within the presumptive range set out in section 18-1.3-401 (1) (a) (III).
(8) (a) (I) No person knowingly shall cultivate, grow, produce, process, or manufacture any marihuana or marihuana concentrate or knowingly allow to be cultivated, grown, produced, processed, or manufactured on land owned, occupied, or controlled by him any marihuana or marihuana concentrate except as authorized pursuant to part 3 of article 22 of title 12, C.R.S.
(II) Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) commits:
(A) A class 4 felony; or
(B) A class 3 felony, if the violation is committed subsequent to a prior conviction in this or any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of a violation to which this subsection (8) applies or would apply if convicted in this state.
(b) (I) Except as is otherwise provided in subsection (7) of this section and except as authorized by part 3 of article 22 of title 12, C.R.S., or by part 2 or 3 of this article, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to manufacture, dispense, sell, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute marihuana or marihuana concentrate; or attempt, induce, attempt to induce, or conspire with one or more other persons, to manufacture, dispense, sell, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute marihuana or marihuana concentrate.
(II) As used in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b), "dispense" does not include labeling, as defined in section 12-22-102 (16), C.R.S.
(III) Any person who violates any of the provisions of subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) commits:
(A) A class 4 felony; or
(B) A class 3 felony, if the violation is committed subsequent to any prior conviction in this or any other state, the United States, or any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of a violation to which this subsection (8) applies or would apply if convicted in this state.
(9) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2003, p. 1428, § 12, effective April 29, 2003.)
(10) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who possesses, uses, prescribes, dispenses, or administers any drug classified under group C guidelines of the national cancer institute, as amended, approved by the federal food and drug administration.
(11) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who possesses, uses, prescribes, dispenses, or administers dronabinol (synthetic) in sesame oil and encapsulated in a soft gelatin capsule in a federal food and drug administration approved drug product, pursuant to part 3 of article 22 of title 12, C.R.S.
(12) In addition to any other penalty imposed by this section, upon each conviction, entry of plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or receipt of a deferred sentence for a non felony violation of this section or adjudication as a delinquent for an act that would constitute a non felony violation of this section if committed by an adult, any driver's permit or minor driver's license held by the offender shall be suspended as provided in section 42-2-127.3, C.R.S.
18-18-406.3 Medical use of marijuana by persons diagnosed with debilitating medical conditions - unlawful acts - penalty - medical marijuana program cash fund.
(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(a) Section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution was approved by the registered electors of this state at the 2000 general election;
(b) Section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution creates limited exceptions to the criminal laws of this state for patients, primary care givers, and physicians concerning the medical use of marijuana by a patient to alleviate an appropriately diagnosed debilitating medical condition;
(c) Section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution requires a state health agency designated by the governor to establish and maintain a confidential registry of patients authorized to engage in the medical use of marijuana;
(d) The governor, in accordance with paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution, has designated the department of public health and environment, referred to in this section as the department, to be the state health agency responsible for the administration of the medical marijuana program;
(e) Section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution requires the department to process the applications of patients who wish to qualify for and be placed on the confidential registry for the medical use of marijuana, and to issue registry identification cards to patients who qualify for placement on the registry;
(f) Section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution sets forth the lawful limits on the medical use of marijuana;
(g) Section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution requires the general assembly to determine and enact criminal penalties for specific acts described in the constitutional provision;
(h) In interpreting the provisions of section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution, the general assembly has applied the definitions contained in subsection (1) of the constitutional provision and has attempted to give the remaining words of the constitutional provision their plain meaning;
(i) This section reflects the considered judgment of the general assembly regarding the meaning and implementation of the provisions of section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution.
(2) (a) Any person who fraudulently represents a medical condition to a physician, the department, or a state or local law enforcement official for the purpose of falsely obtaining a marijuana registry identification card from the department, or for the purpose of avoiding arrest and prosecution for a marijuana-related offense, commits a class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) If an officer or employee of the department receives information that causes such officer or employee reasonably to believe that fraudulent representation, as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), has occurred, such officer or employee shall report the information to either the district attorney of the county in which the applicant for the marijuana registry identification card resides, or to the attorney general.
(3) The fraudulent use or theft of any person's marijuana registry identification card, including, but not limited to, any card that is required to be returned to the department pursuant to section 14 of article XVIII of the state constitution, is a class 1 misdemeanor.
(4) The fraudulent production or counterfeiting of, or tampering with, one or more marijuana registry identification cards is a class 1 misdemeanor.
(5) Any person including, but not limited to, any officer, employee, or agent of the department, or any officer, employee, or agent of any state or local law enforcement agency, who releases or makes public any confidential record or any confidential information contained in any such record that is provided to or by the marijuana registry of the department without the written authorization of the marijuana registry patient commits a class 1 misdemeanor.