Ed Fitch

In the Feb. 21 edition of the Redmond Spokesman there were submissions that expressed opposition to any marijuana dispensaries.

In 2016, Oregon voters decided that adults should have the right to possess and purchase marijuana. Since then, the legal use of marijuana has been present in our community. Redmond adults have a right to grow marijuana at home and to purchase it just as any other adult Oregonian can. The only difference in Redmond is this: an adult cannot purchase it in our city limits.

There is also no question that there are many adults who have medical conditions such as chronic pain and terminal illnesses that can be alleviated with the use of marijuana. Such adults, whether inside Redmond or any adjacent outlying areas, cannot purchase prescribed marijuana in Redmond.

The majority of the prior city council would not even consider hearing the facts or having a discourse about the options as to whether or not the rights and/or medical plight of their fellow citizens could be accommodated in a reasonable manner.

In January, the city offered an opportunity for community member input on the city council goals. There was considerable interest given to having dispensaries here in Redmond.

I believe this city council is committed to hearing all sides on this issue and determine whether or not a very limited number of dispensaries can be sited and operated in a manner that would address the legitimate concerns of those who do not want any type of drug being more accessible to our youth and the rights and needs of our fellow adult citizens to have lawful access here instead of driving to Bend and paying the tax revenue generated by these sales to that city instead of Redmond.

Some of the comments we have received are from those who advocate the principle that the government should not stand in the way of a citizen’s ability to exercise his or her lawful rights.

However, in this instance it appears they are advocating the opposite — that our city government should deny fellow adult citizens the right to purchase marijuana in their own community.

On many issues the city council is given the responsibility to balance the rights and needs of our citizens which for some individuals or groups may not align neatly with each other.

Nevertheless, the council must try to find the most reasonable and commonsense decision it can. What the end result will be regarding dispensaries when all of the facts and opinions are vetted in a public hearing remains to be seen.

What I do know, however, is that this is a topic worthy of

discussion.