Dolores considers biennial marijuana license renewals, fee changes

Dolores is preparing a licensing cleanup that could reshape how often marijuana businesses return to the public dais. Ordinance No. 590 Series 2026 would move town marijuana licenses to a biennial renewal cycle, consolidate renewal and operating fees, and add a one-time transitional extension so local expiration dates match the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division’s schedule.

The Town Board of Trustees is set to take second and final reading of the ordinance on July 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Dolores Town Hall. The public hearing notice says interested people may attend and be heard, and a copy of the proposed ordinance is available for inspection at Town Hall during normal business hours through the town clerk.

The practical question for Dolores is whether the change will streamline oversight or reduce how often residents see marijuana licenses come back for review. Under the proposal, the town would still regulate the industry, but the renewal calendar would shift from annual local check-ins to every two years, which could mean fewer routine chances for neighbors to raise concerns and a more predictable schedule for businesses planning cash flow and compliance.

That change would bring Dolores closer to the state system. The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division generally renews regulated marijuana business licenses every year, except transporter licenses, which are good for two years. MED sends renewal notices 90 days before expiration, and since Jan. 1, 2020, there has been no 90-day grace period after a license expires. If a complete renewal application is not accepted before expiration, the license becomes immediately invalid.

Dolores already runs a detailed local process for marijuana applicants. The town requires a mandatory pre-application meeting with the town clerk, a complete application filed by appointment only, fingerprinting, and, if more applicants apply than sites are available, a public lottery. Successful applicants still must secure building, state and land-use approvals before a local license is issued.

The proposed ordinance also arrives after years of local rulemaking around marijuana sales. Dolores voters approved commercial and retail marijuana sales in April 2020, and the town passed its marijuana code in January 2021. Town records from 2025 show the system was already active, including a marijuana retail license renewal for Canna & Company LTD and High-Country Releaf on the June 9, 2025 board agenda. An April 14, 2025 packet also listed Ordinance 586 Series 2025 as the second amendment to the Dolores Marijuana Code.

For trustees, the July 13 hearing is not just about marijuana. It is about how Dolores manages a regulated business sector, how often it asks for public review, and whether a cleaner schedule can deliver more certainty without weakening scrutiny.