A community member asked about my stance on recreational marijuana, and it's an important topic to consider since it's new to our community and there was an attempt to put it on the ballot in 2018. Marijuana is a controlled substance that has a lot of negative externalities, and I wrote my senior thesis at EOU about how to fund the public safety response in the wake of decriminalization. Marijuana has been available in the community for a long time, and legalization provided a way to increase funding for the public safety to the negative externalities of this substance. I also spent part of my childhood living in a dry county in rural Tennessee, and my family grieved when a friend was killed by a drunk driver who had become intoxicated in a neighboring county on his way home. This research and experience led me to take two public policy actions as a private citizen: In 2015, I testified before the Union County Commissioners in favor of permitting the sale of recreational marijuana in unincorporated areas; and I signed the petition to put recreational marijuana on the ballot in La Grande 2018. In 2019, my thinking on the subject shifted to opposing recreational sale in La Grande as I studied the economic impact on smaller communities. Huntington and Sumpter are seeing massive economic growth because of the sale of recreational marijuana, along with increased tax revenue allowing them to pay for the negative externalities of marijuana use. La Grande would be a much more attractive destination for recreational marijuana sales, and legalization here would decimate the progress that these smaller communities have made. Other than a highly unlikely resurgence in the timber industry, recreational marijuana is the only opportunity for growth these other towns have, whereas La Grande's opportunities for growth (and increased revenue for public safety) are limitless with the right vision. If elected Mayor, I will not vote in favor of any proposal to place recreational marijuana on the ballot in La Grande, because I do not want to cause immeasurable harm to neighboring communities where legalization has resulted in positive economic growth and revenue increases necessary to pay for public safety problems. However, I will be sure to safeguard any attempts by citizens to place this matter on the ballot, because I believe that the ballot box is an important place to decide city issues. Call me if you want to discuss this topic more at 541-805-2630.