A law requiring marijuana products to have use-by dates took effect this week.
(Photo credit: Life Flower Dispensary).
As of January 1, all marijuana products sold through licensed retail outlets in Colorado must include “use-by” dates that indicate when the product is nine months old and should no longer be consumed if it’s past that point.
The new requirement was approved by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division in late 2022, with the division giving the industry a large window to adjust to and adopt the new requirements.
Initially the division sought to have the use-by period be six months rather than nine, but marijuana industry lobbyists were successful in getting the number increased by 50%.
The industry was also successful in fighting for the ability for companies to petition the division if they can prove their product has a shelf-life of longer than nine months. This would include passing multiples tests including for potency and microbial content.
According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, there was $1.3 billion worth of legal marijuana sold between January 1 and October 31, 2023. All-time marijuana sales are now over $15 billion.
Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012, tying Washington State as the first to do so. The first legal marijuana store opened in January, 2014.
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