My View – February 2016
When expressing My View, it’s always penned with a deliberate “end in-mind,” intent that what’s expressed will make a difference and possibly shape public policy. On that note, I’d like to share my thoughts on a matter of utmost importance that will impact Jacksonville’s future—marijuana.
On January 5 at its first meeting of the New Year, I was very pleased when the City Council passed an Ordinance banning the establishment of medical and recreational marijuana businesses in town. (See Ordinance here.) Although Council never mentioned the possibility that allowing such shops could jeopardize our Historic Landmark status with the Federal Government, council made what I believe is a very practical decision, nonetheless. The action effectively says there will be no pot shops in Jacksonville, at least not until the issue goes to a public vote in November. Having personally voted against Measure 91, the statewide measure that legalized the use of recreational marijuana, I reluctantly find myself in the statewide minority on this issue. It gives me hope, however, that a slim majority of Jacksonville’s voters also opposed Measure 91. I’m optimistic that many more voters who supported legalization on a statewide basis are in fact NIMBY (not in my backyard) voters and will vote to keep pot shops out of their beloved city.
As said, while I’m relieved that Council voted for the ban, I wasn’t relieved when it also decided to send the issue to the voters in the November 8 General Election. In my “perfect world,” the Council would not have referred the issue to the voters and taken the risk of being a target of a lawsuit.
I know many of you agree with me on this issue and that others are shaking your heads and mumbling, “Parker is out of touch…he’s a prohibitionist.” One fact of life of sitting here in the publisher’s chair means taking positive and negative pot shots. Sitting here also includes making decisions on what to publicly support on these pages and, of course, what not to support. A publisher who claims the pages of his publication doesn’t include personal bias, is lying.
This fall, it will be up to the Jacksonville voters and not the City Council to have the final word on banning marijuana businesses in town—a critical decision on the course our community takes and a clear message it wishes to send to the world about our values. Please join me in supporting our City Council and its well-thought-out decision to ban marijuana dispensaries within the city limits. Working jointly, we can shape our future and make a difference in our Small Town with Big Atmosphere.
Whitman Parker is Owner and Publisher of Jacksonville Review and Southern Oregon Wine Scene magazines.
So Whitman, you’re pro wineries and agriculture – unless that agriculture is a marijuana plant? The decision of the Council to let the voters decide is a wise one. You are on the wrong side of history my friend. Unfortunate that a pro-business person like you wants to stand in the way of progress.
Hey dinosaur! your asteroid is coming and it is green. You are gonna feel like the boy and the dike with not enough fingers to stop what is inevitable and coming to a local election near you as the “old school” is voted out and the view reflecting most of Oregon accepted
You can try to bury us, but you forget, we are the SEEDS.
Hell yeah!!! Let’s ban alcohol too!!! And tobacco!!! The people should not be allowed to make bad decisions!!!…
“Working jointly…” Whitman, you kill me.
Wow, nah bud your a prohibitionist. Unreals a town renowned in this little valley as full of rich old drunk fuddy duddies would behind closed council doors bann growing Cannabis. Which this article fails to mention. Even four rec plants. Enough to medicate/recreate the whole year for pennies on the dollar they’d spend at a dispencery. How ironic these rich alcoholic fuddy duddies have no problem keeping the poor poor, and the medicated not. Your back yard is full of people who would grow, unlike Medford you folks diddnt even give them a chance to voice there opinions. It dosent surprise the facisism I see in Jacksonville.
While I agree that personal bias shows up in the pages of publication, I’m curious if you or your readers know that the impact Cannabis will have on Jacksonville’s future has already happened? As you probably already know, Cannabis has been used for it’s medicinal properties for over 6000 years! In and around the Jacksonville area, cannabis and hemp farming played a vital role in the development of our beloved town, and is intrenched in it’s history! Early miners and settlers wore hemp clothing, pulled their carts with hemp ropes, and bought cannabis tinctures right on main street Jacksonville. Kahlers drug store (1880) the building that still exists, as well as the previous building at the same location, sold a myriad of cannabis products prescribed by physicians of the time for over 60 years. While some people bought into the false propaganda in the 1930’s that created the stigma that still exists today, most of us have educated ourselves on the benefits of cannabis vs pharma for medicine and struggle with the views of individuals that know almost nothing about the plant they hate. I don’t expect you to “see it my way”, I respect peoples right to have an opinion, but respect it a lot more when they share their views based on fact and knowledge, rather than years of misinformation, and stigma!
So, are there liquor stores and cigarets being sold in Jacksonville? Time shake off the old myths and tabus about Cannabis. It is a mild euphoric, not physically addictive, useful to many as medicine for thousands of years. About a third of the population has enjoyed it. No one dies from cannabis, while over 500,000 deaths per year are attributed to alcohol and tobacco. Where cannabis is legal, there is less crime, fewer Rx drug overdoses and the economy is stronger.
You’re “perfect world” will never be established Whitman
and Jacksonville isn’t “your backyard”
It’s ours
So Jacksonville town does not want or need the tax revenue for schools,hospital or VA clinic? if the town does not participate it does not share the revenue from sales tax.That being said i also think to be so close minded about an issue like this makes it easier for black market sales hence Americas biggest losing war called the war on drugs.
I will avoid the Jacksonville Review. It’s a shame you would support a ban on one substance that will provide many jobs, while promoting wine, which also provides jobs, but also causes many problems in society. The main problem with cannabis is the laws surrounding it. Do some research, look at the facts, then make the right decision, support cannabis business.
Of course you’d rather the council disregard public opinion. Because you know that you are the minority. Thankfully we still live in a democracy where our opinions still count sometimes.
Your uneducated and mundane response to your city council supporting the black market is reckless, neive, and dangerous. How strong are your shoulders to bare the next tragedy related to your citizens gaining safe access to cannabis? The next crime is on your hands for giving the gangs freedom to operate and conduct violent business in our commuity. Shame on you!
hey just a thought maybe just maybe some Jacksonvillians don’t agree with your vision of OUR town
You my friend, seem like, just another mindless minion without an educated or compassionate response to a very serious disregard for human rights. The fact that you print a rag to create more community divisiveness proves in itself that you are a mean spirited person who needs to face the hypocrisy of your own beliefs. If you studied the facts you wouldn’t believe all the hogwash that’s coming from your confused head. You really need a trip to the Harmony Hut brother and I hope you have an epiphany soon for your own good and the community’s good. I’ll pray for you brother. You’re just a young guy. You’ve got plenty of time to change.
I’m concerned that your “opinion” lacks a substantative base of information from which you drew conclusions, upon which you based your opinion. In other words. Where are your facts? Have you done any research on the topic before you came to have this opinion? I hear assumptions and bias when I read your editorial. I do not see facts. I do not see citations to articles published by respected agencies. I do not see cited clinical studies. I see only your opinion. What exactly do you base that opinion on? Cannabis has been used for at least 6000 years and probably more. It’s documented as being an effective agent against certain cancers, glaucoma, seizures, diabetes and pain. Because cannabinoids, (read the active agents in cannabis), work at the cellular level they are involved in many aspects of our health. This is also why it purportedly helps so many medical conditions. THC is the one cannabinoid everyone has heard of and it’s the only one that is psychoactive. There are over 500 other cannabinoids and so far only THC has been shown to have psychoactive properties. CBD is another better known cannabinoid and it is not only not psychoactive and it also fights the psychoactivity of THC. This means when found in combination CBD lessons the psychoactive effects of THC. Many patients prefer high CBD medicine with some THC because the cause whats called an entourage effect. This means the two together work better than either alone. So please understand, while some people may enjoy the psychoactivity of marijuana that doesn’t mean all we want is to get high. Patients are treating illness’ that respond to this medicine and prefer it to the side effects of using pharmaceutical drugs. To demand that your opinion prevail at the expense of patients who are sick and in pain is reprehensible. You are not a doctor. Your opinion should not dictate my health care decisions. I strongly suggest you do your homework and research this incredible plant and the human body’s endocannabinoid system before expressing your opinion in print again. You only look foolish to those who are educated about this subject.