I attended the public hearing concerning the request for extended hours at the medical marijuana dispensary located on Enterprise Drive in Fountain Hills.

Our mayor, Linda Kavanagh, came well prepared on the issue with materials and statistics to substantiate her facts and figures. She was able to challenge intelligently the applicant’s figures that he presented, proving his to be less than accurate.

She did her homework well, and it showed. She evidently researched the subject matter thoroughly before casting her vote.

She voted “no” on the extension of hours for the marijuana dispensary. Safety, she stated, was a big factor in her decision. She is a wise and competent person, and I couldn’t agree with her more.

At the two public hearings that I attended on the issue of extending the business hours of the dispensary, I was very disappointed to observe the poor attendance by the parents here in Fountain Hills. Approximately 30 people were in the audience at both public hearings.

This was an important issue and a learning experience as well. The extended hours would make it more accessible for individuals outside our community to make their purchases here.

If the medical marijuana dispensary has not been as lucrative as the applicant expected, just maybe he made a poor location choice. More availability of marijuana, the more usage.

Is this what the residents of Fountain Hills really want?