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<br />MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE <br />MARCH 18, 2024 <br />AUDITORIUM <br />Present: Councilmembers Baker, Shachner, Strebig <br />Also Present: Councilmembers Marx, Bullock, and Rader; Mayor George, Law Director Vargo, <br />Chief Prosecutor Mirriam Miranda, Council staff <br />Call to Order: 6:10 p.m. <br />Approval of the minutes of the February 20, 2024 meeting of the Public Safety <br />Committee. <br />A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2024 Public Safety <br />Committee. All members voted in favor. Motion passed. Minutes approved. <br />ORDINANCE 40-2023 - AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it <br />receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council to <br />amend Sections 513.01 Definitions, 513.02 Gift of marihuana, and 513.03 Drug <br />abuse; and controlled substance possession or use of the Codified Ordinances of the <br />City of Lakewood and to repeal Section 513.045 Use or possession of marihuana <br />paraphernalia, to make these sections consistent with Chapter 3780 Adult Use <br />st <br />Cannabis Control of the Ohio Revised Code.(1 read & referred to Public Safety <br />nd <br />12/18/23; 2 reading 1/2/24) <br />Chair Baker introduced the ordinance, explaining that it was introduced by Councilmember <br />Shachner in response to the initiated statute regarding adult use marijuana. Ordinance 40-2023 <br />addresses the criminal portions of the code related to marijuana possession and gifts of <br />marijuana. He explained that the original version of the ordinance seeks to decriminalize <br />marijuana. The administration is currently working on a revised version that seeks to <br />comprehensively align Lakewood’s Codified Ordinances with State law. He also explained the <br />challenges of this task, given the contradictory and changing nature of the current State law. <br />Chair Baker expressed willingness to discuss the issues at a high level, despite the quickly <br />changing guidance from the State. <br />Director Vargo explained the work process within the Law Department, which culminated in a <br />new draft version of Ordinance 40-2023, submitted to Council via email today. Director Vargo <br />cautioned that the current draft still needs additional work. He committed to presenting a <br />polished version to the Council in 4-6 weeks. <br />Prosecutor Miranda stated that the City intends to respect the will of citizens to enjoy their rights <br />under the initiative.She noted that the burden has fallen on the City to try and reconcile <br />discrepancies between the initiative and the state’s existing criminal code. <br />1 <br /> <br />