Larimer County limits natural medicine facilities to industrial zones and bars colocation with retail marijuana

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners approved a Land Use Code amendment to regulate natural medicine activities authorized under the Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act (Proposition 122). The board voted 3-0 to adopt changes that define a "license premises" under the state code, prohibit those premises from operating as home or rural occupations, allow natural medicine licensed premises only with site plan review in Industrial Light (IL) and Industrial Heavy (IH) zoning districts, and add use-specific standards and parking requirements. The board also added a provision that prevents natural medicine license premises from operating within 1,000 feet of licensed retail marijuana establishments, measured by direct pedestrian route.

The amendment implements the state framework that decriminalized and established a regulated system for natural psychedelic medicines for adults 21 and older. Michael Whitley, senior planner, explained the county amendments: add a Land Use Code definition of "license premises," require state licensure for any County approval, exclude license premises from being operated as home or rural occupations, list IL and IH as the only rural/urban zoning districts where the use is allowed (subject to site plan review), create a use-specific standard (Section 335.M) requiring a valid state natural medicine license and compliance with applicable county standards, and add a parking ratio of one space per 200 square feet for the use. The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-1 at its December 18, 2024 meeting.

Commission discussion focused on co-location with existing marijuana operations, zoning choices, enforcement and licensing timelines, and facilitator qualifications. Whitley said the state requires a 1,000-foot separation from schools and childcare facilities measured by direct pedestrian route, that the Natural Medicine Division began accepting applications Dec. 31, 2024 with licenses expected early 2025, and that local jurisdictions may regulate time, place and manner but cannot enact rules that effectively ban the uses. Board members asked whether the county could limit co-location with retail marijuana: staff and the county attorney confirmed the board could add a local prohibition; the board directed staff to add a new standard in Section 335.M to require license premises be at least 1,000 feet from licensed retail marijuana establishments measured by direct pedestrian route. The county attorney advised the change was within the scope of the hearing notice.

The board approved the amendment (file 24CODE0282), including the added 1,000-foot separations from licensed retail marijuana establishments, and set the effective date for the regulations as January 13, 2025.

Key details - Approved land-use file: 24CODE0282, Natural Medicine Land Use Code amendment; board approval vote: 3-0. - Effective date: January 13, 2025. - Allowed zones: IL and IH only (site plan review required). - Prohibitions: cannot operate as a home occupation or rural occupation; must hold a valid state natural medicine license; state-required 1,000-foot separation from schools/childcare remains enforced by state; county added 1,000-foot separation from licensed retail marijuana establishments measured by direct pedestrian route. - Parking: 1 space per 200 square feet devoted to the use.

The board opened public comment; no members of the public were present in the room and no hands were raised online. Commissioners and staff indicated they would continue coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and state agencies as licensing begins.