How Much Cannabis Can You Buy in Colorado?

Colorado, a pioneer in cannabis legalization, boasts a thriving recreational and medical cannabis industry. But whether you're a local or a visitor, it's essential to understand the regulations surrounding cannabis purchase limits. In this guide, we'll break down the permissible quantities of cannabis products, from flower to cannabis concentrates, in the Centennial State, helping you stay within the legal boundaries so you can enjoy your cannabis experience to the fullest.

Recreational Cannabis Purchase Limits

As with other states, Colorado has specific purchase limits in place for both residents and visitors¹ to ensure everyone is able to enjoy their marijuana responsibly. Fortunately, the rules are the same whether you live in the state or are just visiting so that will make it easier to keep track of everything. Of course, when visiting a dispensary, you can always ask a budtender if you’re not sure how much you’re allowed to purchase. The limits of recreational marijuana are:¹

1oz of Flower

All adults, meaning those 21 and older, can purchase up to one ounce (approximately 28 grams) of cannabis flower during a single business day. This means that you can go to one dispensary in a day, purchase 14 grams of marijuana, and then go to a second dispensary, and purchase another 14 grams of marijuana, in the same day. Once you hit that 28 grams, however, you cannot purchase any more that day.

8g of Concentrate

The laws in Colorado restrict purchases of marijuana concentrates to eight grams. Concentrates are highly potent, and because of this, less product is required to achieve the same effects someone might be looking for with marijuana flower. Whether you’re shopping for wax, budder, or shatter, you can get everything you need within that eight-gram limit.

800mg of Edibles

When it comes to cannabis-infused edibles, Colorado enforces a purchase limit of 800 milligrams of THC, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis. Edibles come in various forms, from gummies to chocolates, and while you can purchase any type of edible you may prefer, it just cannot add up to more than 800 mgs of THC.

8,000mg of Vapes

The rules in Colorado state that you can have up to eight grams of concentrates, but many shoppers may not realize that rule also applies to vapes. Since vape cartridges are typically available for purchase in either one-gram or half-gram sizes, the math is much easier: you can legally purchase up to eight one-gram cartridges or up to 16 half-gram cartridges.

Medical Cannabis Purchase Limits

The purchase limits are slightly different for medical marijuana patients, depending on the patient’s age.¹

• Medical marijuana patients who are at least 21 years old are allowed to purchase up to two ounces of medical marijuana; up to eight grams of concentrates; or up to 20,000 milligrams of THC in one day. 
  
  
• Medical marijuana patients who are between the ages of 18 and 20 are allowed to purchase up to two ounces of medical marijuana; up to two grams of concentrates; or up to 20,000 milligrams of THC in one day.

Remember that all patients must have a valid, Colorado-issued medical marijuana card to qualify for these purchase limits. 

Purchase Limits vs Possession Limits

So that’s it then, right? Everything you need to know is written above. Not quite. Those recreational marijuana purchase limits are just that—purchase limits. Colorado also has possession limits.² This means that while you can purchase only a certain amount in a day, you can actually have more than that amount in your possession at home. In Colorado, you are allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana at a time—double the purchase limit—whether you’re a recreational marijuana consumer or a medical marijuana patient.¹ 

Answering FAQs About Purchasing Cannabis in Colorado 

Ready to purchase cannabis in the Centennial State? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding purchasing cannabis in Colorado that may be helpful.

Can I purchase cannabis in Colorado if I'm not a resident?
Yes, you can purchase cannabis in Colorado even if you're not a resident. The state allows both residents and non-residents to buy cannabis products, provided they are at least 21 years old.³

Can you go to more than one dispensary in a day?
Yes, you can visit multiple dispensaries in a single day. Colorado does not limit the number of dispensaries you can shop at in a given day. However, you must abide by the daily purchase limits.⁴

Can you smoke marijuana in public in Colorado?
No, it is illegal to smoke marijuana in public spaces in Colorado. Consumption is restricted to private properties or properties with cannabis-friendly, designated areas.

Purchasing Marijuana in Colorado

Colorado makes consuming cannabis the easy, enjoyable recreational activity that it should be—provided you follow the rules. If you’re 21 or older and interested in purchasing cannabis in Colorado, make sure you bring some cash for your purchase and your state-issued ID. If you have any questions while you’re at the dispensary, no matter if this is your first Colorado dispensary visit or your hundredth, hit up a budtender. They’re there to make your visit go smoothly.

Find a Dispensary

Sources:

1. “Marijuana information for residents, visitors, and business owners,” City and County of Denver, https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Marijuana-information/Marijuana-information-for-residents-visitors-and-business-owners

2. “Quick Hit: Dispensary Purchase Limits Explained,” Flowhub, June 17, 2021, https://flowhub.com/learn/dispensary-purchase-limits

3. “Colorado Marijuana Laws,” Colorado Cannabis Information, https://coloradocannabis.org/laws

4. “Colorado,” Weedmaps, January 20, 2021, https://weedmaps.com/learn/laws-and-regulations/colorado

Use of Marijuana Concentrate may lead to: Psychotic symptoms and/or Psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, or difficulty distinguishing reality); Mental Health Symptoms/Problems; Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) (uncontrolled and repetitive vomiting); Cannabis use disorder/dependence, including physical and psychological dependence.   Please consume responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product.  State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and medical marijuana patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.