Colorado Extends Online Ordering, Curbside Pickup and Telemedicine for Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has extended through June 28 executive orders that allow medical cannabis dispensaries to offer online ordering, curbside pickup and telemedicine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Westword report.

While Colorado’s medical cannabis law prohibited these services, Polis’ issued orders in March in response to the coronavirus crisis that allow dispensaries to offer online ordering and payment, as well as curbside pickup, to help promote social distancing and slow the spread of the virus.

Telemedicine for medical cannabis evaluations and reapplications were also prohibited under state law, but are now permitted under Polis’ extended orders.

Dispensary owners and their staff have indicated that they would like to keep the new ordering, curbside pickup and telemedicine services in place even after the pandemic, Westword reported, and Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) Communications Director Shannon Gray told the news outlet that while curbside pickup may be able to continue without a regulatory update, the MED would have to change state law to make online ordering and telemedicine a permanent part of the program.