Boulder has 23 dispensaries licensed by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED). Adults 21 and older with a valid photo ID can buy, including out-of-state visitors and CU students who are of age, and 7 stores also hold a medical license. Boulder adds its own 3.5% recreational marijuana tax on top of its regular city sales tax, so expect a bigger tax line than the shelf price suggests.
Boulder is a compact college town with a lot of stores for its size. The market runs along two spines: Pearl Street downtown and the 28th and 30th Street shopping corridor to the east. Ratings are consistently strong, with most stores at 4.5 stars or better on Google.
All 23 Licensed Dispensaries in Boulder, CO
Nine stores sit in 80301, mostly on or near 28th and 30th Streets in east-central Boulder, where a single address, 1750 30th Street, holds three businesses. Seven are in 80302, mostly on Pearl Street between downtown and 28th Street. Southeast Boulder (80303) has five along Arapahoe Avenue and South Boulder Road, and north Boulder (80304) has two. Open any listing for its MED license number and directions.
Pearl Street and downtown: Native Roots Boulder at 1146 Pearl Street and The Trust Cannabis Company at 1537 Pearl are the closest to the Pearl Street Mall. East on Pearl, Fresh Baked and Cannabis Studio are a few doors apart. The Village Green Society is on 16th Street, and Terrapin Care Station is on Folsom Street.
28th and 30th Street: At 1750 30th Street, Magnolia Road Cannabis Company, Green Dragon and Every Day Weed Boulder share one shopping center. Nearby are The Cannabis Depot on 28th Street, Green Tree Dispensary on Walnut Street, 14ER Holistics on Mapleton Avenue and The Farm on Iris Avenue. In north Boulder, Maikoh Holistics is on Glenwood Drive, Apothecary Farms is on Folsom Street, and farther out, Karing Kind is on Rawhide Court and Green Dream Cannabis is on Lookout Road.
Southeast Boulder: Emerald Fields is on South Boulder Road, Boulder Built and Snaxland are on Arapahoe Avenue, and Terrapin Care Station is on Manhattan Circle.
Best Boulder Dispensaries for Every Need
Based on public Google ratings and hours, checked October 2026:
- Highest rated: Karing Kind (4.9 stars, about 2,150 reviews), Emerald Fields (4.8, about 560) and Maikoh Holistics (4.8, about 470).
- Most reviewed: Magnolia Road (about 2,400 reviews), then Karing Kind (about 2,150), Fresh Baked (about 1,200) and The Farm (about 1,050).
- Open at 8 a.m.: Magnolia Road, Green Dragon, The Cannabis Depot, Emerald Fields and Terrapin on Folsom.
- Open latest: Karing Kind until 10 p.m. and Fresh Baked until 9:50 p.m. Most others close by 9:45 p.m.
- Downtown, walkable: Native Roots Boulder (4.7 stars) and The Trust (4.7), both on Pearl Street.
- Medical patients: Green Tree (4.8 stars), Native Roots Boulder and Snaxland serve both patients and adult-use shoppers, and Magnolia Road and Boulder Built run separate medical counters.
Visiting a Dispensary in Boulder: ID, Payment and Hours
- ID: Bring a valid government photo ID showing you are 21 or older, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport. A student ID alone will not work.
- Hours: State rules allow sales from 8 a.m. to midnight, but Boulder stores keep shorter hours, opening between 8 and 10 a.m. and closing between 7 and 10 p.m.
- Payment: Cash and debit are standard. Credit cards are rarely accepted because cannabis remains federally illegal.
Boulder and Colorado Cannabis Laws: Purchase Limits, Public Use and Driving
A retail store may sell up to 1 ounce of flower or its equivalent per transaction, and no more than 8 grams of concentrate a day. Adults may possess up to 2 ounces. Our Colorado marijuana laws guide has the details.
- Public use: Consuming cannabis in public is a petty offense with a fine of up to $100, on the Pearl Street Mall, at Chautauqua, on open space trails or anywhere else open to the public.
- CU Boulder: The university bans marijuana in residence halls, campus buildings and on campus grounds, even for students 21 and older or with a medical card, because it remains illegal under federal law.
- National forest: The mountains west of town include national forest land, where federal law applies and cannabis is illegal.
- Driving: Keep products sealed. Using cannabis in a vehicle is illegal, even when parked, and impaired driving is a DUI.
Cannabis Taxes in Boulder
The City of Boulder charges an additional 3.5% tax on recreational marijuana sales on top of its 3.86% city sales tax, so the city's share is 7.36%. Add Colorado's 15% retail marijuana sales tax, plus any county and transit taxes the store collects, and your receipt will show each line. A separate 15% state excise tax is paid at wholesale and built into prices, and the city also charges its own 5% excise tax when marijuana moves from a grower to a store. Medical purchases skip the 15% state retail tax and the city's 3.5% recreational tax, and pay the 2.9% state sales tax and regular local sales taxes instead. See our cannabis prices by state report.
Medical Marijuana in Boulder
7 of Boulder's 23 stores hold a medical license. Patients 18 and older registered with the state can buy up to 2 ounces of flower a day and pay lower taxes, and medical stores are the only legal option for CU students under 21 who qualify. Remember that the campus ban applies to medical cannabis too.
Dispensaries Near Boulder
- Dispensaries in Louisville: 7 stores southeast on US 36.
- Dispensaries in Lafayette: 3 stores just east.
- Dispensaries in Longmont: 9 stores to the northeast.
- Dispensaries in Broomfield: 5 stores toward Denver.
- Dispensaries in Denver: 183 stores about 30 miles southeast.
Browse every city on our Colorado dispensary directory.
Boulder Dispensary FAQ
Is weed legal in Boulder?
Yes. Adults 21 and older can buy at licensed Boulder stores and use cannabis on private property with the owner's permission.
How many dispensaries are in Boulder?
Our directory lists 23 MED-licensed stores in the City of Boulder.
Can tourists buy weed in Boulder?
Yes. Visitors 21 and older can buy with an out-of-state driver's license or a passport, up to 1 ounce of flower per transaction.
What time do dispensaries close in Boulder?
Most close between 8 and 9:45 p.m. Karing Kind stays open until 10 p.m.
Do Boulder dispensaries take cards?
Most take cash and debit. Credit cards are rarely accepted.
How much weed can I buy in Boulder?
Up to 1 ounce of flower or its equivalent per transaction, and 8 grams of concentrate a day. Medical patients can buy up to 2 ounces of flower a day.
Where can I smoke weed in Boulder?
Only on private property where the owner allows it. Pearl Street, parks, trails and the CU campus are all off limits.
Can CU students buy weed in Boulder?
Students 21 and older can buy at any retail store, but they cannot have it in dorms or anywhere on campus. Students under 21 need a state medical registry card.
Can I get weed delivered in Boulder?
Colorado allows delivery only where the local government has approved it and the store holds a state delivery permit. Ask the store whether it delivers to your address.
What is the best dispensary in Boulder?
Karing Kind has 4.9 stars on about 2,150 Google reviews, the top rating among Boulder's busier stores. See our ratings list above.
Does your dispensary need more visibility? Cannabis shoppers use The Weed Street Journal to compare stores, read strain guides and check the law before they buy. Advertise with us · Spotted a wrong address, phone number or hours? Tell us and we will fix it free.
How we build this list: Store names, addresses, license numbers and medical designations come from the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division's lists of licensed retail and medical marijuana stores. Ratings, review counts and hours come from public Google Maps data. We refresh the list monthly and remove stores whose licenses are no longer active.