REDMOND, OR -- Redmond voters will decide two measures in November that could legalize the sale of substances still illegal at the federal level. Mayor Ed Fitch says the City Council agreed this week to ask voters whether Psilocybin treatment centers should be allowed in Redmond. "The arguments ‘for’ are that studies show that clinical treatment with psilocybin can be effective dealing with PTSD, dealing with anxiety and depression." Fitch tells KBND News, "The con is, ‘why do we want more drugs in Redmond? We don’t want drugs, we don’t want psilocybin.’ But, on the flip side," he says, "These aren’t taken out of the clinic. They can only be utilized within the clinical setting."

Oregon voters legalized the use of psilocybin in licensed facilities in 2020. The first patients received treatment in Bend last year. In 2022, Redmond voters approved a two-year ban on psilocybin services. In November 2024, voters will be asked again, "It’s going to be a peculiar one because a vote ‘yes’ means the ban will continue," says Fitch, "A vote ‘no’ will mean clinical centers can be located in Redmond."

Also on Redmond’s November ballot, another request to allow marijuana dispensaries in the city. "Last year, the Council made a commitment to propose to voters a ballot measure that - either we’re going to allow dispensaries in Redmond or we’re not," says Mayor Fitch, "There’s been people pro-marijuana dispensaries; there’s people against it." If approved, the measure would end the nine-year moratorium on cannabis businesses in Redmond. Fitch says the city would then impose a sales tax, "The 3% tax will only come into effect if there’s an affirmative vote to have dispensaries. And then we would change the code to allow them, we would employ time, place and manner restrictions, so we would only have two or three. They’re located in areas that are not going to be close to schools, residences or downtown."