Convenience Store, Vape, Liquor, Tobacco Retailers

On Aug. 11, 2025, the Aurora City Council gave final approval to ordinance 2025-64, titled "Nonscheduled Psychoactive Ingredients and Drug Paraphernalia Implements."

This ordinance consolidates enforcement of items that are psychoactive and either regulated or prohibited by state, local or federal law.

Additionally, the ban also prohibits businesses from engaging in the sale of illicit drug paraphernalia used for illegal drugs.

Even if these items have other purposes, the context they are marketed and sold for is considered regarding their use. For example, nitrous oxide products may be used for whipped cream but in a vape store they are sold as an illegal and dangerous inhalant especially when in large containers and with flavors.

There are also state laws addressing hemp and kratom products. This year, Senate Bill 25-072 adds additional regulation to kratom and kratom-derived products in Colorado. In 2023, Senate Bill 23-271 created regulations on hemp-derived products and modified the definition of marijuana.

Items that are covered by this ordinance listed on this page in detail.

Below is some information regarding common violations:

Tobacco

• State Tobacco License is required for the sale of any tobacco or nicotine products (this includes vape pens)

• Selling tobacco without a license is a $1,000 state fine.

• The sale of loose cigarettes is not allowed, you must sell full sealed packs of cigarettes.

• Cigarette/tobacco vending machines are not allowed.

• Outward signs advertising vape-related products cannot be displayed

• It is a $1,000 state fine for each sign that is visible from outside the business (posted on exterior windows, walls, fuel pumps, trash cans etc.)

• Customers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase tobacco products.

• Customers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase kratom.

• All employees selling nicotine/tobacco products must be at least 18 years of age.

Kratom

Kratom is allowed to be sold under Federal, Colorado and Aurora laws at this time as long as it meets the following conditions:

• Is in pure form such as capsules and not added to any food product such as tablets or gummies.

• Restricted sales to those ages 21+

• Does not contain more than 2% 7-hydroxy (7-OH). Cannot be concentrated or added to foods such tablets or gummies.

• Do not display or stock items accessible to someone under the age of 21.

• Must meet labeling requirements under state law C.R.S 6-1-740.

• Kratom cannot be in vapes or in a product for inhalation.

Tianeptine

Tianeptine products such as Neptune’s fix, Purple Magic are prohibited.

THC, cannabis and hemp products

Colorado Revised Statutes 25-4-427(4)(c)

(I) A person shall not: (B) Market or promote a hemp product as containing THC or any other potentially intoxicating cannabinoid.

This provision applies to ALL forms of THC including Delta 8, Delta 9, THCA, THCP, HHC or similar derivatives. Total permitted THC content in any hemp product is 1.75mg per serving with no more than 15:1 ratio of CBD to TOTAL THC.

These products may be labeled as less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC or compliant with the farm bill. However, they are not compliant with Colorado State Law and by extension the Aurora Municipal Code.

CBD products must contain a label that states they have less than or equal to 1.75mg Total THC per serving. They have at least 15:1 ratio of CBD to total THC. If they have more than 1.25mg total THC per serving and less than a 20:1 CBD to total THC ratio, they must be labeled that they can only be sold to persons over the age of 21.

Loose sales of hemp buds are prohibited as they do not meet the labeling requirements.

The product can contain de minimis levels of total THC per the limits above but cannot market or promote that it is a THC product.

Mushroom products: Aminita muscaria, muscimol, unlabeled or poorly labeled ingridients

Food products that contain amanita muscaria or muscimol are considered adulterated and not legal to sell in Colorado. These products are often labeled as being legal and occasionally sold by distributors but are adulterated products and will be removed.

Note a generic ingredient of “nootropic blend” is not consistent with the pure food and drug laws and must also be removed, especially if it is indicating it is psychoactive. The label must specify what mushroom is contained in the product.

Mad honey

Mad Honey is also considered an adulterated food and illegal for sale. They are often packaged as being legal but are likely synthetically produced drugs. Mad honey is a honey that contains grayanotoxanes produced from the nectar and pollen of the rhododendron, known for intoxicating effects.

Dangerous Inhalants

When sold in the context of a vape store, smoke shop or similar context intended for inhalation nitrous oxide, alkyl nitrate and butyl nitrate are prohibited.

Drug Paraphernalia

Drug paraphernalia, such as oil burners, rose in a tube, crack pipes, meth pipes, chore boys or similar filter material (when sold with the pipes or precut as filters), single pieces of foil, etc. are prohibited under state and local laws.

Illegal pipes

Often sold with chore boys as a filter sometimes pre-cut.

Prohibited when sold in a manner intended for illicit drug use.

Burners/bulb pipes used for methamphetamine – Any bulb type pipe with small hole.

See display below, this is combining rose in a tube with chore boys to be used for illicit drugs, also small baggies for the distribution if drugs is prohibited from being sold. Balloons sold in a smoke shop to be used for dangerous inhalants are prohibited.

Self-serve devices and coin pushers

Coin pushers are illegal gambling devices and are prohibited per Aurora Municipal Code and state law.

All vending machines, ATMs, arcade devices, or other self-service device not owned by the business where the device is located shall have information clearly posted on it which discloses the general business license number, name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the device.

Ensure that your place is not a gathering place for drug use or other criminal behavior. Report illegal behavior to the Aurora Police Department at 303.627.3100 or call 911 in an emergency. Please reach out to the Licensing Division with any questions 303.739.7057 or [email protected].