Lynnwood Council heats up over cannabis sales, EV charger fees

The Lynnwood City Council will decide in September whether to lift a ban on cannabis sales that has persisted since Washington legalized recreational cannabis over a decade ago. During a recent council meeting, representatives from the Cannabis Alliance and four local cannabis license holders presented their views, countering claims made by State Rep. Lauren Davis regarding the health risks associated with cannabis. Councilmember Patrick Decker remains a vocal opponent to lifting the ban, while other council members, including Nick Coelho and George Hurst, have shown support for legalization. The license holders expressed a willingness to operate under regulations that would space out cannabis stores to avoid clustering.

Concurrently, the council is considering a 39-cent-per-kilowatt-hour fee for public electric vehicle charging stations at city hall, which opened in May. This fee proposal aims to make the charging stations financially sustainable. The vote on the cannabis ban could significantly influence local economic opportunities and public health discourse surrounding cannabis use. As the conversation unfolds, community members are closely watching the council's actions regarding both cannabis sales and EV charging fees.