Lynnwood council affirms policy to allow retail cannabis sales and directs staff to bring ordinance in September

The Lynnwood City Council voted April 28 to direct staff to prepare ordinance language allowing retail cannabis sales in the city and to return for council consideration on Sept. 22, 2025. Council members also voted earlier in the discussion to affirm that retail cannabis sales should be allowed in Lynnwood.

The debate followed public comment from residents who urged the council to design rules that promote equity and protect youth. At the meeting’s public-comment period, Isabelle Mata (resident) asked how Lynnwood would “ensure that small local businesses have a fair opportunity to enter the cannabis market and not just multi state operators,” and whether tax revenue could be reinvested in community health, youth education or public safety. Gaylena Baynton (resident) described her family’s experience with a relative who developed schizophrenia after regular cannabis use and asked council members to “keep our youth and young adults in the front of your mind when you make your decisions here.”

Staff presentation and timeline

Carl Almgren, the city’s community planning manager, summarized a staff…