Castle Rock has not banned the retail sale of kratom — not yet. Town Council approved Ordinance 2026-032 on first reading on Sept. 15, 2026, by a vote of 6-1, but the ordinance still needs a second and final reading before it becomes law. That vote is now scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, according to the Town's own Legistar record.
What the Ordinance Would Change
The proposal amends Section 9.22.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code. The current draft's amended text reads:
"9.22.010 – Sales of kratom products prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to sell or offer to sell at retail within the Town any kratom products intended for human consumption."
That's a change from the Town's existing kratom rule. In 2019, Council added a chapter to Title 9 of the Municipal Code that prohibited selling kratom products specifically to minors. Ordinance 2026-032 would remove the age qualifier and prohibit retail sale of kratom products for human consumption outright, regardless of the buyer's age.
The Town's Stated Reasoning
The ordinance's recitals, drafted by the Town Attorney's Office, state that medical authorities and federal agencies now warn that kratom products carry "significant health and safety risks," and that daily use "can cause standard opioid-like tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction within a few weeks." The draft also asserts that Colorado law explicitly permits municipalities to regulate kratom sales, and that a home-rule ban on retail kratom sales is not preempted by state law.
Where It Stands
- Sept. 15, 2026: Council approved the ordinance on first reading, 6-1. Councilmember Max Brooks moved approval; Councilmember Mark Davis seconded.
- Oct. 6, 2026: The ordinance is next on the Town Council's agenda, per Legistar, for what would be its second and final reading.
Colorado home-rule municipalities require both an initial reading and a second, final reading before an ordinance takes effect. Until that second reading passes, the current rule — no kratom sales to minors — remains the only kratom restriction on the books in Castle Rock.
The same Sept. 15 meeting also saw Council continue a separate ordinance requiring businesses to report theft within 96 hours, also now on the Oct. 6 agenda.
Sources: Town of Castle Rock, Legistar record for ORD 2026-032 (matter status, first-reading vote history and next agenda date); Ordinance No. 2026-032, first-reading draft with amendment redline, Town Attorney's Office. All checked Sept. 30, 2026.