Judy Dow’s letter in the March 21 Spokesman titled ”Plenty of ways to get marijuana in Redmond” invited some further dialogue on the “marijuana question” in Redmond. My suggestion? Let’s end the hype, hysteria and hypocrisy on the subject.

Dow asserts that rejection of dispensaries in Redmond represents “strong family values.” This is a well-worn trope that itself should be rejected. Vilification of marijuana use goes back to the 1920s and is largely racist in its origin. Numerous medical studies have made clear that cannabis is probably less harmful than alcohol, whether used in moderation or even badly abused — and the notion that it is some sort of “gateway drug” has also been rebutted time and again by numerous experts. Further, there’s zero evidence the existence of dispensaries in a given neighborhood has any impact on crime, etc. In fact, one of the great benefits of legalizing weed has been to put a major dent in the black market where real crime resides.

In terms of economy and good jobs, Dow also misses the boat. Legal cannabis is perhaps one of Oregon’s fastest growing industries. One company with its original roots in nearby Tumalo is now a national leader in the edible space, with sales (as recorded by Forbes magazine) in excess of $40 million nationwide. They employ hundreds here in Oregon and a dozen other states and is a true home-grown success story.

With all this in mind, why should Redmond continue to miss out? I whole-heartedly endorse Mayor Fitch’s willingness to discuss and potentially introduce some dispensaries to our fair city. The economic benefit in terms of jobs and tax dollars would be meaningful — and the downside risk is actually minimal.

No one complains about wine or beer in their grocery or a new OLCC store coming in nearby. A marijuana dispensary should be treated no differently.

Andrew Kaza

Redmond