After 10 years, the city lifts its ban on retail cannabis sales. Lynnwood will now allow up to four licensed shops in designated commercial zones.
LYNNWOOD, Wash. — The city of Lynnwood officially ended its 10-year ban on cannabis retail shops, marking a turning point in a fight at City Hall and paving the way for licensed businesses along the city’s commercial corridors.
The first shop to open under the new rules is Star Buds, now operating as the only legal cannabis retailer within Lynnwood city limits. On Monday, owner Kaden Sadis expressed relief and optimism as the doors finally opened.
“It took a while to get open, but we are finally excited to get in here, get some local customers,” Sadis said.
Since legalization, Washington’s cannabis market has grown, climbing to a peak of $1.5 billion in total sales in 2021. Last year alone, Washington generated roughly $20 million in cannabis tax revenue distributed to local governments.
For a decade, Lynnwood was among the municipalities holding firm on a ban while cannabis stores took root in nearby unincorporated areas just outside city limits. The debate over reversing that policy came to a head last year, when a proposed ordinance to allow retail cannabis in certain zones drew vocal opposition.
“I think it is unwise to allow cannabis dispensaries to be directly next to residential neighborhoods,” one councilmember said during a September 2025 meeting.
Safety was also a concern. Mayor George Hurst, who had pushed for reform since his time as a councilmember, acknowledged the concerns were grounded in real incidents.
Mayor Hurst, however, had long questioned the logic of the ban altogether.
“This is legal business. Why are we stopping it?” he asked.
Star Buds says it has taken the safety concerns seriously. The shop is installing bollards outside the storefront and has equipped the interior with panic buttons.
“It is a busy street here. The parking lot is full. So, I think this will be a good thriving business right here,” said Mayor Hurst.
Under the newly adopted ordinance, Lynnwood will permit up to four retail cannabis stores to operate in designated commercial and mixed-use zones throughout the city.
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