I’m getting in from months out of the cold and catching up. Just read an opinion column in the Redmond Spokesman from Jay Patrick titled “Banning dispensaries about protecting children.”

I am a grandmother and certainly remember the days of “pot smoking hippies.” Never was my thing. Fast forward, I have lived through a fatal accident that took my mother. I will have pain for the rest of my life.

The only relief, other than drugs that I will never take, is a balm that  50/50 CBD oil and THC. The balm without THC gives no relief. My partner struggles with extreme back pain and our cold climate exacerbates all of it. He either takes a CBD/THC gummy or smokes pot for instant relief and sleep.

How this could possibly affect our grandchildren or anybodies is an outdated, uneducated belief.

We have to drive to Bend to get this relief and they reap the reward. Seriously, we think children in Bend are unprotected because of legalizing dispensaries? I beg to differ and suggest an education.

Susie Helfer

Redmond