Colorado Launches State-Funded Loan Program for Cannabis Businesses

The Cannabis Business Office (CBO) creates new economic development opportunities, local job creation, and community growth for the diverse population across Colorado. Under the leadership of Governor Polis, we strive to expand economic prosperity within historically economically distressed areas throughout the state.

The office will offer technical assistance and access to capital that is otherwise unavailable at the federal level. While businesses that work with hemp and CBD have access to these resources, the CBO will provide these resources specifically to Marijuana Enforcement Division-licensed THC-touching companies. Technical assistance will include webinars, training modules, personalized one-on-one consulting, and other support. Access to capital will be offered in the form of microloans and grants for qualified applicants.

The Cannabis Business Office is a newly created office from Senate Bill 21-111 and funded by the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund. The office will work to create new economic development opportunities, local job creation and community growth for the diverse population of Colorado.

As we develop programming for the Cannabis Business Office, we want to hear from partners and potential clients so we can better serve the needs of our community. Please use the forms below whether you want to support the CBO as a partner, or utilize CBO programming.

I am interested in applying for future CBO assistance 

Social equity as a priority

The office will prioritize programming for social equity licensees. To be eligible for a social equity license, applicants must qualify one of the following:

• resided for at least 15 years between 1980 and 2010 in a census tract designated by OEDIT as an Opportunity Zone or designated as a “Disproportionate Impacted Area”
• applicant or applicant’s parent, legal guardian, sibling, spouse, child, or minor in their guardianship was arrested for a marijuana offense, convicted of a marijuana offense, or was subject to civil asset forfeiture related to a marijuana investigation
• household income in a year prior to application did not exceed 50% of the state median income as measured by the number of people who reside in the applicant’s household

For more information about social equity licenses, please read the eligibility requirements.