Pot license backlog dogs Colorado regulators

Regulators are still battling an enormous backlog issuing licenses for medical marijuana as Colorado prepares for recreational pot sales in less than a month.

The Denver Post reports that nearly 100 Colorado medical-marijuana businesses are operating without a final state license. The application backlog now stretches back more than three years.

Colorado allows marijuana dispensaries with pending applications to remain in business. The newspaper reports that 96 businesses are in that category, growing and selling pot without final licenses. All the businesses applied for licenses in 2010.