§ 44-10-201 — State licensing authority - creation

(1) (a) For the purpose of
regulating and controlling the licensing of the cultivation, manufacture,
distribution, sale, and testing of regulated marijuana in this state, there is hereby
created the state licensing authority, which is the executive director or the deputy
director of the department if the executive director so designates.

(b) The state licensing authority also has regulatory authority for retail
marijuana and retail marijuana products as permitted in section 16 of article XVIII of
the state constitution and this article 10.

(2) The executive director is the chief administrative officer of the state
licensing authority and may employ, pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state
constitution, such officers and employees as may be determined to be necessary,
which officers and employees are part of the department.

(3) A state licensing authority employee with regulatory oversight
responsibilities for marijuana businesses licensed by the state licensing authority
shall not work for, represent, or provide consulting services to or otherwise derive
pecuniary gain from a medical or retail marijuana business licensed by the state
licensing authority or other business entity established for the primary purpose of
providing services to the marijuana industry for a period of six months following his
or her last day of employment with the state licensing authority.

(4) Any person who discloses confidential records or information in violation
of the provisions of this article 10 commits a class 2 misdemeanor and shall be
punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501. Any criminal prosecution pursuant to the
provisions of this section must be brought within five years from the date the
violation occurred.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2019: Entire article added with relocations, (SB 19-224), ch. 315, p. 2840, � 5, effective January 1, 2020. L. 2021: (4) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3327, � 785, effective March 1, 2022.