CLEVELAND — Lakewood City Council is getting ready to lead the way in cannabis policy reform after the state voted to legalize recreational marijuana. 

What You Need To Know

  • Lakewood City Council is preparing to reshape the city’s approach to marijuana.

  • The passage of Issue 2 allows a person to possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana

  • Lakewood residents voted yes to Issue 2 

Sarah Kepple became the Lakewood City Council president and said she is already helping prepare for new adult use marijuana laws. 

“Lakewood voters voted overwhelmingly in support of Issue 2, about 80% of those who turned up in November voted yes in Lakewood,” she said.

The passage of Issue 2 means a plan must be put in place to make sure adult use of marijuana is in line with the new law, something Kepple says is already in the works.

"In Lakewood, there is a comprehensive set of ordinances to tackle the issue of adult use marijuana, one of which focuses on possession and growing," she stated.

Under Issue 2, a person can possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana or grow up to six plants. Kepple said it’s time to get the city’s language in line with the new regulations so people aren’t penalized for following state law within the city of Lakewood.

Lakewood already has two medical marijuana dispensaries, but there’s no place to buy recreational marijuana. Adult use businesses are on standby to see when and where they might open.

“That zoning will go to our citizen advisory zoning board to give us feedback on how they’d like to see that zoned in Lakewood, so that’ll be driven by those citizens,” she said.

Kepple said the city is working with the state on how to move forward with adult use marijuana and until then, they’re looking to be a model for nearby cities.

“Lakewood is always a leader. We try to be an example of how a progressive government can function and I think this is no exception,” she said.