Colorado criminal charge
Offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product in Colorado
Offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-18-434. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-18-434.
What is the penalty for offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Underage possession or consumption of natural medicine — A person under twenty-one years of age who knowingly possesses or consumes natural medicine or natural medicine product commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Underage possession or consumption of natural medicine — A person under twenty-one years of age who knowingly possesses or consumes natural medicine or natural medicine product commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Open and public display or consumption — A person who openly and publicly displays or consumes natural medicine or natural medicine product commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Open and public display or consumption — A person who openly and publicly displays or consumes natural medicine or natural medicine product commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Excess cultivation area on private property — A person who knowingly cultivates natural medicine exceeding a cumulative area of twelve feet by twelve feet on private property, or knowingly allows such cultivation, commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Excess cultivation area on private property — A person who knowingly cultivates natural medicine exceeding a cumulative area of twelve feet by twelve feet on private property, or knowingly allows such cultivation, commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Cultivation outside enclosed and locked space — Except as provided in (3)(b)(II), a person who knowingly cultivates natural medicine on private property outside of an enclosed and locked space, or allows such cultivation, commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Cultivation outside enclosed and locked space — Except as provided in (3)(b)(II), a person who knowingly cultivates natural medicine on private property outside of an enclosed and locked space, or allows such cultivation, commits a drug petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | 4 years to 8 years (Unlicensed manufacture using inherently hazardous substance — A person who violates subsection (4), by unlawfully manufacturing natural medicine product using an inherently hazardous substance or knowingly allowing such manufacture on controlled property without a license, commits a level 2 drug felony.; aggravated range 8-16 years) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401.5 |
| Fine | 3000 usd to 750000 usd (Unlicensed manufacture using inherently hazardous substance — A person who violates subsection (4), by unlawfully manufacturing natural medicine product using an inherently hazardous substance or knowingly allowing such manufacture on controlled property without a license, commits a level 2 drug felony.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401.5 |
| Parole / supervision | 2 years to 2 years (Unlicensed manufacture using inherently hazardous substance — A person who violates subsection (4), by unlawfully manufacturing natural medicine product using an inherently hazardous substance or knowingly allowing such manufacture on controlled property without a license, commits a level 2 drug felony.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401.5 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underage possession or consumption of natural medicine | petty offense | A person under twenty-one years of age who knowingly possesses or consumes natural medicine or natural medicine product commits a drug petty offense. | 18-18-434(1) |
| Open and public display or consumption | petty offense | A person who openly and publicly displays or consumes natural medicine or natural medicine product commits a drug petty offense. | 18-18-434(2) |
| Excess cultivation area on private property | petty offense | A person who knowingly cultivates natural medicine exceeding a cumulative area of twelve feet by twelve feet on private property, or knowingly allows such cultivation, commits a drug petty offense. | 18-18-434(3)(a) |
| Cultivation outside enclosed and locked space | petty offense | Except as provided in (3)(b)(II), a person who knowingly cultivates natural medicine on private property outside of an enclosed and locked space, or allows such cultivation, commits a drug petty offense. | 18-18-434(3)(b)(I) |
| Unlicensed manufacture using inherently hazardous substance | level 2 drug felony | A person who violates subsection (4), by unlawfully manufacturing natural medicine product using an inherently hazardous substance or knowingly allowing such manufacture on controlled property without a license, commits a level 2 drug felony. | 18-18-434(4)(c) |
Common questions about offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product in Colorado
Is offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product ranges from a petty offense to a level 2 drug felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-18-434.
Underage possession or consumption of natural medicine: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-18-434(1)) · Open and public display or consumption: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-18-434(2)) · Excess cultivation area on private property: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-18-434(3)(a)) · Cultivation outside enclosed and locked space: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-18-434(3)(b)(I)) · Unlicensed manufacture using inherently hazardous substance: level 2 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-18-434(4)(c))
What are the penalties for offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product in Colorado?
Penalties for offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a petty offense up to a level 2 drug felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401.5; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product?
Offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product is governed by C.R.S. § 18-18-434 (Offenses relating to natural medicine and natural medicine product - definitions).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.