DENVER — Denver and Aurora are both taking steps toward allowing for recreational marijuana delivery in 2021.
Denver's Division of Excise and Licenses has drafted three bills related to marijuana delivery, along with marijuana consumption at licensed bars. Marijuana delivery licenses in Denver would begin being issued July 1, 2021, under the proposed plans. City officials will accept public comment on the drafted bills until Jan. 4.
Aurora City Council on Tuesday night voted 8-2 to approve marijuana delivery, with councilmembers Francoise Bergan and Dave Gruber voting against the measure. A second vote on the ordinance will be held at the council's next meeting on Dec. 21.
Both cities' proposed plans would make marijuana delivery licenses for the first three years available only to "social equity" applicants, people who have been arrested or convicted on marijuana-related charges or have been impacted by marijuana investigations. Social equity applicants also include people who have lived in an economic opportunity zone for at least 15 years or someone with a household income below 50% of the state median.
The Colorado legislature in 2019 passed a bill allowing for recreational marijuana delivery by 2021. The state would have to license drivers who plan to deliver for marijuana businesses.
Sarah Woodson, executive director of The Color of Cannabis — which advocates for people of color to get into the marijuana business — told The Denver Post that Denver's proposed bills were framed through the lens of social equity.
“This is about people getting more opportunity, specifically people who have been negatively affected by cannabis prohibition,” Woodson told The Post.
Medical marijuana delivery is already available in Longmont, Superior and Boulder, though recreational delivery won't be available until Jan. 1, 2021.