Boulder County, CO Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Rule 15, Resolution No. 2023-024
- Scope
- All county parks and open space land
- Covers
- Marijuana and any marijuana derivative
- Fine
- $100 civil penalty assessment
- Enforced by
- Boulder County Sheriff's deputies
- Adopted
- April 2023, supersedes Res. 2023-020
Summary
Consuming marijuana or any marijuana derivative anywhere on Boulder County Parks & Open Space land is illegal under Rule 15 of Resolution No. 2023-024, the same Rules and Regulations that ban smoking. Sheriff's deputies enforce it with a $100 civil penalty assessment and can expel violators from the property.
It shall be unlawful to consume marijuana or any marijuana derivative within any Boulder County Parks & Open Space area.
Full Breakdown
Colorado's Amendment 64 lets adults 21 and over possess and privately consume marijuana, but that state legalization does not open Boulder County's parks and open space land to public use. Rule 15 of Resolution No. 2023-024, adopted by the Board in April 2023 to supersede Resolution No. 2023-020, states flatly that consuming marijuana or any marijuana derivative is unlawful anywhere within a Boulder County Parks & Open Space area. The 'derivative' language means the ban is not limited to smoking flower: edibles, tinctures, concentrates, and vape cartridges are all covered the same way as combustible marijuana, mirroring how Rule 14 defines smoking broadly for tobacco.
§§ 29-7-101(2)-(3) and 30-15-401, with any additional county staff the Board deputizes carrying the same enforcement power. §§ 29-7-101(2) and 30-15-402, punishable by fine. Because marijuana consumption is not among the offenses given a separate fine schedule (parking, weapons, hunting, and fire-related violations), it defaults to the general 'Regulations assessments' rate of $100 set in Rule 32(c). § 16-2-201 to release the violator on the notice's terms. Rule 30 further allows the county to expel anyone who violates this rule from the property, independent of any fine.
Violations & Fines
A person cited for consuming marijuana or a marijuana derivative on county park or open space land faces the standard $100 civil penalty assessment under Rule 32(c). Sheriff's deputies or Board-deputized staff can issue the citation on site and, under Rule 30, expel the person from the property regardless of whether the fine is paid or contested in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marijuana is legal in Colorado, so can I use it in a county park?
Does the ban cover edibles and vape cartridges, not just smoking?
What's the penalty for using marijuana in a Boulder County park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boulder County
Compare Boulder County to another location·View the Colorado public conduct overview
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