To the editor:

I am disappointed with Mayor Larry Kwarsick’s recommendation to the Langley City Council. I fully expected the mayor to be more open to the creation of a safe access point for medical marijuana patients. It just makes sense to me that every community try to provide a safe space for acquisition of marijuana; a safe space where people with terminal or disabling medical conditions can access a medicine that relieves suffering.

It’s ironic, and in my opinion somewhat duplicitous, that the mayor states in his memo that it makes sense for sick people to have access to medical cannabis, but just not in his city. And that is really unfortunate because I truly believe that the Langley and South Whidbey communities are ready to peacefully coexist with a safe access space. Hopefully, the Langley City Council has enough courage to stand up and do what’s right by creating sensible regulations that allow Island Alternative Medicine to operate in Langley.

Other community councils chose to fight for the rights of medical marijuana patients, and I pray that Langley City Council will follow suit. Right now I encourage everyone who supports access to medical marijuana to call the mayor and voice their frustration and disappointment with his decision. It doesn’t make sense for the mayor and the council to support archaic and illogical regulations. It’s time to step up and support positive change.

Lucas Jushinski

Freeland