On Feb. 23, the city is holding an open forum about the proposed medical cannabis growth and sale in the city of Niles.
I am encouraging you to attend this open forum. The council wants to know whether or not the public would support such a measure.
I am almost 72 years old, and, up until about the last 10 years, I have been a very vocal opponent of cannabis and its use.
However, a growing number of studies show that there are many benefits of this product for those who with pain and disabling diseases. They receive relief and comfort from cannabis, which comes now in many forms.
Even very young children who suffer from epileptic seizures have benefited from a form of cannabis. It does not always need to be inhaled.
Your city council and planning committees need to know how you feel on this issue. They will not know unless you tell them. They cannot read your mind.
Please let the city know if you plan to attend this forum because the city council chamber will only hold so many people. We know from the single trash hauler meeting last fall that more than 50 people had to stand outside.
The city can get a bigger venue for this meeting, if demand is strong enough.

JAN PERSONETTE
Niles