The Marijuana Team serves as a comprehensive resource for legal issues surrounding the decriminalization of medical and retail marijuana in Colorado. This unit was created by Senate Bill 14-215 “to increase the expertise and knowledge among prosecutors and law enforcement officials regarding the legal and regulatory issues surrounding the legalization of marijuana.” The employees in this unit inform and train others on the laws and industry of medical and retail marijuana and serve as an on-going resource to law enforcement, the legislature, the governor’s office and other states.
POST is in the process of creating new marijuana-related curricula and will release updates on the development of the training along with how to become an instructor for the marijuana curricula.
If your agency would like to host a training, please contact us at trainingpost@coag.gov.
- Introduction to Marijuana for Law Enforcement
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This class will cover in detail the laws and cases regarding:
- Civil liability issues
- Possible defenses
- Investigations
- Home grows
- Traffic stops and searches
- DUID
- Butane Hash Oil labs
- Child abuse
- Possession
- Medical marijuana issues and cards
Officers will walk away from the class with a better comprehensive understanding of the legal framework in which to work with regard to marijuana arrests, summons, and search warrants. Officers are also provided handouts and a pocket card to use as reference material.
Please visit the POST Event Calendar for available course times and locations. - Introduction to Marijuana for School Resource Officers
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Officers will walk away from the class with a better comprehensive understanding of the legal framework in regard to marijuana arrests, summons, and search warrants. Officers are also provided handouts and a pocket card to use as reference material.
Please visit the POST Event Calendar for available course times and locations.
Below are printable handouts for a booklet that you may reproduce to educate your student population. Times to consider having them available are: parent-teacher conferences, new student orientation, back-to-school nights, and any other time you and your administrator feel it's appropriate. These handout can be used to teach a marijuana section in a criminal justice and health as well.
- Understanding the Big Deal
- Marijuana Under 21: Laws and Penalties
- Tip Sheet for Teens with Parent Information on the back
- Marijuana Fact Sheet for Teens
All of the handouts provided have been downloaded from one of the following websites:
- Colorado Department of Education
- Colorado School Safety Resource Center
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Safe2Tell Colorado+
Each website has additional information that you may find useful. Searching for "Marijuana" on any of these sites will direct you to the handouts provided here along with additional resources.
- Legal Updates
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House Bill 15-1305 has created significant changes to the extraction of marijuana concentrate in Colorado. This new code section went into effect on July 1, 2015.
This bill has specifically banned the extraction of marijuana concentrate using an inherently hazardous substance by an unlicensed entity or person.
New Code Section 18-18-406.6
- This code section must be used when charging an individual with unlawful extraction of marijuana concentrate.
- This code section makes it a Class 2 Drug Felony.
- Specifically reads "Inherently Hazardous Substance"
This bill bans the following substances:
- Butane
- Propane
- Diethyl Ether
- Any liquid chemical, compressed gas or commercial product that has a flash point of lower than 38 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- Excluding all forms of alcohol or ethanol extraction methods
No explosion is necessary to charge with this code section. If you can prove through testimony and evidence the individual/entity was extracting marijuana concentrate then you may charge under this code section.
If there is an explosion due to an unlawful extraction process you may also charge under this code section in addition to any other applicable Title 18 codes.
- Resources
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- Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement
The Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) is tasked with licensing and regulating the Medical and Retail Marijuana industries in Colorado. - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Colorado's Legalization of Marijuana and the Impact of Public Safety: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement
This guide is available as a free download from the Police Foundation website. - SFST, DRE, ARIDE Certification and Update Guide
- Permanently Voided Cards, Denials and Revoked Medical Marijuana Cards
- Permanently Voided Cards
- Denial of Application and Revoked Cards
- Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement
Contact Us
For questions about training, please use the following e-mail: