The Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 27 considered a request for extension of the hours the medical marijuana dispensary is permitted to operate.

The town ordinance allows it to be open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. These hours are considered “far too restrictive, unfair and prejudiced” by Mark Steinmetz, the operator for Nature’s AZ Medicines.

I happen to agree, so I appeared that evening and spoke in favor of this amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. Also presenting arguments in support of the changes were those I have dubbed “suits.” The “suits” were followed by local residents of Fountain Hills, each of whom stated how long they have lived here. I noted they all wore T-shirts, and they all spoke against the changes.

The real losers, however, are the patients who are working every day these same hours and are unable to get their legally prescribed medication without taking more time off from work.

It would be reasonable and beneficial to the patients for the dispensary to be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Employed patients need less restrictive hours at the dispensary.

As a physician I am unalterably opposed to anyone who would try to prevent, delay or make it more difficult for my patient to obtain the mediations I have prescribed.