1 Colo. Code Regs. § 212-3-3-1105

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 7, April 10, 2024

Section 1 CCR 212-3-3-1105 - Accelerator Program Participation and Privileges

Basis and Purpose - 3-1105

The statutory authority for this rule includes but is not limited to sections 44-10-202(1)(c), 44-10-203(2)(aa), 44-10-310(2), and 44-10-311(2), C.R.S. The purpose of this rule is to establish requirements for Accelerator-Endorsed Licensees and Accelerator Licensees participating in the accelerator program. The Accelerator Program permits different structures. The first option is for the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and the Accelerator Licensee to have a mentor/apprentice relationship at the same premises pursuant to Rules 3-1105 and 3-1110. The second option is for the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and the Accelerator Licensee to have a separate premises relationship pursuant to Rules 3-1105 and 3-1115.

A.Licensed Premises. An Accelerator Licensee may share a Licensed Premises or operate at a separate premises of a Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer, or Retail Marijuana Store that is an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee.

1.Shared Premises. An Accelerator Licensee may share the Licensed Premises of a Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer, or Retail Marijuana Store pursuant to this Rule 3-1105 and Rule 3-1110. The Accelerator Licensee may share the Licensed Premises with a Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer, or Retail Marijuana Store that is the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and is co-located with a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Medical Marijuana Products Manufacturer, or Medical Marijuana Store, respectively.

2.Separate Premises. An Accelerator Licensee participating in the accelerator program may operate at a separate premises of a Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer, or Retail Marijuana Store pursuant to this Rule 3-1105 and Rule 3-1115.

B.Number of Licenses held by an Accelerator Licensee.

1. An Accelerator Licensee may initially apply to be an Accelerator Cultivator, Accelerator Manufacturer or Accelerator Store and hold a single license.

2. After 180 days of demonstrated operations, an Accelerator Licensee may apply for additional accelerator licenses, which may include different accelerator license types. An Accelerator Licensee may not apply for more than one accelerator license until at least 180 days of demonstrated operations.

3. A Controlling Beneficial Owner who holds an accelerator license shall not have an Owner's Interest in more than three of the same accelerator license type. No Controlling Beneficial Owner shall have an Owner's Interest in more than nine total accelerator licenses.

C.Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee Required Equity Assistance Proposal.

1. An Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee must disclose its equity assistance proposal to the Division and to any prospective Social Equity Licensee pursuant to Rule 2-285 and these 3-1100 Series Rules prior to entering any contractual agreements with an Accelerator Licensee.

2.Required Information. An equity assistance proposal must detail the technical, compliance, and/or capital assistance the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee intends to provide an Accelerator Licensee. All equity assistance proposals must, at a minimum, including the following:

a. The types of assistance the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee intends to provide, which may include but is not limited to, the following types of assistance:

i. Accounting;

ii. Business services (e.g. sales and marketing);

iii. Financial or capital support;

iv. Information technology support;

v. Access to legal services from an attorney licensed in the state of Colorado; or

vi. Regulatory compliance support.

b. Whether the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee intends to subcontract with any third parties to provide technical or compliance assistance, and the identity of the prospective third parties, if known;

c. Any applicable timelines associated with the provisions of the assistance the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee intends to provide;

d. Whether the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee intends to charge rent for a prospective Accelerator Licensee's use of the premises, and the amount of rent and required deposits, if applicable;

e. How the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee plans to protect or minimize disruptions on a prospective Accelerator Licensee in the event of a change of Controlling Beneficial Owner of the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee's license; and

f. Whether the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee has been subject to any administrative action by the State Licensing Authority or the Local Jurisdiction within the preceding two years and, if so, whether there are any restrictions on the Licensee as a result of such administrative action.

3.Voluntary Information. An equity assistance proposal may, but is not required to, include additional information about the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee, including but not limited to the following:

a. The Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee's business objectives and organizational values;

b. A description of the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee's work environment;

c. Information regarding the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee's business profile, including company size, revenue, and distribution capabilities;

d. Any educational or training assistance provided to the Accelerator Licensee in navigating human resources matters; and

e. Any other information that may be useful to informing prospective Accelerator Licensees and determining compatibility between an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and Accelerator Licensee.

4.Modification of Equity Assistance Proposal. Nothing in these rules shall preclude an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee from amending or modifying its equity assistance proposal. The Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee shall submit the updated equity assistance proposal to the Division within 30 days of finalizing any such amendments or modifications.

5. The Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee may request that a prospective Social Equity Licensee enter into a non-disclosure agreement prior to providing the prospective Social Equity Licensee a copy of the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee's equity assistance proposal in order to ensure the information remains confidential.

D.Equity Partnership Agreement - General Requirements. Prior to hosting or offering technical and/or capital support to an Accelerator Licensee, an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee must first enter into an equity partnership agreement with the Accelerator Licensee. In addition to any other requirements in Rules 3-1110 and 3-1115, an equity partnership agreement must include the following minimum requirements:

1. The equity partnership agreement must be executed by both the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and the Accelerator Licensee.

2. The executed equity partnership agreement must represent the full legal and business relationship between the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and Accelerator Licensee unless additional agreements are permitted or required pursuant to Rules 3-1110 or Rule 3-1115.

3. The executed equity partnership agreement shall at a minimum, include the following:

a. A description of the types of technical, compliance, and/or capital assistance the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee is providing to the Accelerator Licensee;

b. The timeline associated with the assistance the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee is providing;

c. If the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee is charging rent for the Accelerator Licensee's use of the Licensed Premises, the rent amount, any required deposits, and length of lease;

d. How the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee will protect or minimize disruptions to the Accelerator Licensee in the event of a change of owner of the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee's license;

e. Conditions for amendments to the equity partnership agreement; and

f. Conditions for dissolution of the equity partnership agreement.

4. An Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee must provide technical, compliance, and/or capital assistance to an Accelerator Licensee pursuant to its equity partnership agreement with an Accelerator Licensee. An Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee may provide technical and/or compliance assistance to an Accelerator Licensee through third parties. However, an equity partnership agreement cannot require an Accelerator Licensee to receive such assistance from a specific provider unless permitted pursuant to Rule 3-1115.

E. There shall not be any agreement(s) or contracts between the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and the Accelerator Licensee that are not disclosed to the Division.

F.Dissolution of Business Relationship. If the business relationship between the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and Accelerator Licensee dissolves, both parties must notify the Division within 10 days. The notification of dissolution must include the reasons for the dissolution of the business relationship between the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and Accelerator Licensee.

1. The Accelerator Licensee will have until renewal of the Accelerator License to identify a new Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee or apply for a new Regulated Marijuana Business license unless this deadline is extended by the Division. The Division may waive or reduce the application and/or licensing fees affiliated with the application. However, the Accelerator Licensee cannot operate without a Licensed Premises or an executed and valid equity partnership agreement with an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee.

2. Upon notification of dissolution of the accelerator business relationship, the Division will determine whether the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee retains the social equity leader designation for that calendar year.

G.Additional Privileges for Accelerator-Endorsed Licensees.

1.Social Equity Leader Designation. A Retail Marijuana Store, Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility, or Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer that is an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee and that is operating under an equity partnership agreement with an Accelerator Licensee may be designated by the Division as a social equity leader for each year the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee hosts an Accelerator Licensee on its premises. A social equity leader may use a logo or symbol created or approved by the Division to indicate its leadership status. The Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee may only use the social equity leader logo or symbol while the designation remains valid.

2.Mitigation. The Division and the State Licensing Authority may consider a social equity leader designation as a mitigating factor when determining the initiation of administrative action or assessment of penalties.

3.Compliance Assistance and Education Engagement. For an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee operating under an equity partnership agreement with an Accelerator Licensee, the Division will conduct an on-site compliance assistance and education engagement with the Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee for purposes of supporting the Licensee's activities as an Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee.

4.Application and License Fee Exemptions. An Accelerator-Endorsed Licensee may submit a request to the State Licensing Authority for an exemption from application and license fees for a change of Controlling Beneficial Owner, change of location, or modification of premises that is directly related to its participation in the accelerator program.

a. The request for an exemption may be included with the submission of the application for which it is requesting an exemption from fees. The request for exemption must include any information demonstrating the application is related to its participation in the accelerator program, including but not limited to, the positive impact to the Accelerator Licensee.

b. If a request for an exemption is denied, the Applicant shall submit required fees within 10 days from notice that the fee exemption request was denied. Failure to submit required fees may result in denial of the application.

1 CCR 212-3-3-1105

42 CR 23, December 10, 2019, effective 1/1/2020

43 CR 21, November 10, 2020, effective 1/1/2021

44 CR 07, April 10, 2021, effective 5/1/2021

44 CR 13, July 10, 2021, effective 8/1/2021

44 CR 23, December 10, 2021, effective 1/1/2022

45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 12/1/2022

46 CR 23, December 10, 2023, effective 1/8/2024