Things to Know About Getting Your Cannabis Employee License (MED Badge)

Any person working for a business where cannabis is grown, extracted, manufactured, or sold must have an Employee License issued by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) which is tasked with licensing and regulating the medical and retail marijuana industries in Colorado. The Employee License or “MED Badge” is only valid in Colorado. This article provides you with an overview of the application process and requirements.

Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements to apply for a Colorado MED Badge. If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you are NOT eligible to obtain or hold a MED Badge:

• Are you under twenty-one years of age?
• Have you been convicted of a felony in the three (3) years immediately preceding this application? (Unless the charge was prior to the age of 18 and was adjudicated as a juvenile)
• Are you currently subject to a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or a deferred judgment or sentence? (Unless the charge was prior to age 18 and was adjudicated as a juvenile)
• Have you failed to remedy an outstanding delinquency for any judgments, taxes, interest, or penalties due to the Department of Revenue, relating to a Regulated Marijuana Business?
• Are you the spouse or child living in the household of any person employed by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division?
• Are you a sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or prosecuting officer, or an officer or employee with the Marijuana State Licensing Authority or a local licensing authority?
• Are you a licensed physician making marijuana patient recommendations? (Medical Only)
• Have you had your authority to act as a primary caregiver revoked by the State Health Agency? (Medical Only)

See https://sbg.colorado.gov/med-employee-license-test

If you meet all eligibility requirements, you must complete MED’s Employee License Application and pay a fee. MED’s Employee License Application and fee schedule may be accessed online here: https://med.colorado.gov/employee-license-application

You must have an approved form of identification (ID) such as a valid Colorado driver’s license or ID Card or a passport issued for less than five years to apply for a MED Badge. You can apply with an out-of-state ID. However, the ID must be current. You must include a copy of your ID in the application. Check here for a full list of accepted forms of IDs: https://sbg.colorado.gov/sites/sbg/files/documents/221104%20MED%20Required%20Forms%20of%20Identification.pdf  

All applicants are required to be fingerprinted at the time of application. The State offers fingerprinting services or you may use a third-party vendor. To find out more about MED’s fingerprinting requirements and to find links to fingerprinting options, visit: https://med.colorado.gov/third-party-fingerprint-providers

Payment must be made when you submit your completed application. The application fee is non-refundable. You may pay online using the state’s Interactive Payment System. If you choose this option, a MED staff member will contact you by email with a payment link. Alternatively, you may pay by check or money order. The check should be made payable to the Colorado Department of Revenue or CDOR. The state does not accept cash payments. MED’s Fee Schedule can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gU5d7JxXdVID0Bnd-gVFRSviuZjJnU8Z/view

Completed Employee License Applications can be submitted online using the State’s ML1 Online Services. Directions and links for online submissions can be found here: https://med.colorado.gov/employee-license-application

Prefer paper? Completed hard copy applications may be mailed or dropped off at MED’s Lakewood office drop box; or, applications may be delivered in person at MED’s Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Lakewood offices, but you must make an appointment first. To schedule an appointment or find office locations, visit: https://med.colorado.gov/in-person-services.

Once a license is approved, the MED Badge will be mailed to the mailing address listed on your application.

MED Badges are good for two (2) years but can be renewed. You must renew your MED Badge before it expires. If you fail to apply for a renewal before your MED Badge expires, you will have to go through the process of applying for a new MED Badge as outlined above. Renewal application requirements, the application form, and renewal fee schedule can be found here: https://med.colorado.gov/employee-license-renewals

BHGR’s Cannabis Group routinely advises cannabis businesses and employees about MED Badge and other licensure requirements. If you have questions about this article or other cannabis licensing requirements, contact us today.

Many states, including Colorado, have legalized medical and adult recreational use of marijuana. However, the use and possession of marijuana is still illegal under Federal law. As a result, individuals and businesses operating in the cannabis industry operate subject to the risk of federal enforcement.

Applicants should also be aware that applying for or holding a Colorado MED Badge or working in the cannabis industry may have adverse Federal immigration consequences.