Colorado lawmakers will review a new statewide marijuana consumer safety audit on Monday, October 19, examining the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division and Colorado State Public Health Laboratory.
According to the official hearing agenda, the Legislative Audit Committee will consider a performance audit titled “Marijuana Consumer Safety,” dated September 2026. The audit involves the Marijuana Enforcement Division within the Department of Revenue and the State Public Health Laboratory within the Department of Public Health and Environment.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the Colorado State Capitol. The audit is the first substantive item on the agenda, with lawmakers expected to hear from state auditors and agency officials about the findings and recommendations.
The review follows a March 2025 decision by the Legislative Audit Committee to authorize an examination of how Colorado enforces marijuana consumer protection standards. The request, submitted by Senators Byron Pelton and Rod Pelton, was approved in a 6-2 vote, according to official committee minutes.
The upcoming audit also follows a 2023 performance review that identified significant problems with marijuana regulatory oversight. Auditors found that 36% of newly licensed retail marijuana stores examined had not been inspected within one year of approval, while 182 stores identified as priorities for targeted inspections had not received those inspections during the period reviewed.
That earlier audit also found that regulators did not pursue disciplinary action for 23 of 44 public safety-related violations examined, including violations involving underage marijuana sales and inventory tracking.
The new review expands the focus to include the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory, which has responsibilities involving marijuana testing laboratory certification, product testing and public health investigations.
The Office of the State Auditor currently lists the Marijuana Consumer Safety audit for release in October. Under Colorado’s audit procedures, reports remain confidential until their public release by the Legislative Audit Committee, making Monday’s hearing an opportunity for the public to learn the new findings and any recommended changes to the state’s marijuana safety oversight.
