How many plants can I grow legally in Colorado?
Six per adult, 12 per household. Colorado adults 21 and older may cultivate up to six cannabis plants per person at home, with no more than three plants mature and flowering at one time. A single residence may hold no more than 12 plants total, no matter how many adults live there. Amendment 64 and C.R.S. 18-18-406.3 set those numbers.
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Medical patients follow a different set of rules. A standard patient registration allows six plants. A patient with an extended plant count from a physician may grow up to 24 plants. Since HB 21-1090 took effect in 2021, a medical home grow above 12 plants must be registered with the state.
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Recreational home grow limits
- 6 plants per adult age 21 or older.
- 3 or fewer plants mature and flowering at one time.
- 12 plants maximum per residence.
- Enclosed, locked space required.
- Plants cannot be visible from a public place or from outside the property line.
Medical home grow limits
- 6 plants for a patient with a standard registry card.
- Up to 24 plants with a physician's extended plant count recommendation.
- More than 12 plants at one address requires registration with the Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry.
- A primary caregiver may grow for registered patients, with caps on patient numbers and plant totals.
Your city or county can be stricter
Colorado law lets local governments ban or cap home cultivation. Some cities allow the full 12 plants. Some set a lower cap. Some prohibit home grow outright. Codes change, and rules can differ between a city and the unincorporated county around it. Confirm the limit for your address with the city clerk or county planning department before you start seeds.
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Rules that apply to every home grow
Home cultivation is for personal use. Sales are illegal without a state license. Plants must sit in an enclosed, locked area. Possession limits apply away from home: 1 ounce for recreational adults 21 and older, 2 ounces for medical patients with a valid card. Some jurisdictions require registration or allow inspections. A landlord may ban growing in a rental unit, and a lease term can override the state plant count in practice.
Why the plant count is seldom the deciding factor
Convenience shapes the choice. A dispensary purchase takes a few minutes. A home grow takes 10 to 16 weeks from seed or clone to harvest, plus space, lights, ventilation, nutrients, and water. Power and equipment for one indoor plant often cost more than the retail price of the harvest for a light consumer. That math sends most buyers to a store.
Colorado authorized retail cannabis delivery in 2021, and deliveries began in parts of the state in 2022. Not every city permits it. Many stores also offer online ordering and curbside pickup. For someone who wants an ounce, the plant limit does not enter the decision. Home grow fits people who want specific strains, live far from a store, or hold a medical extended plant count.