You probably have noticed that from time to time, The Oakland Press has done editorials on topics that were previously written about.

But we’re not trying to be redundant or just fill space on a day when we could not think of a subject to discuss. Some topics are just fair game for repeat editorials — and for good reasons.

One reason is that the subject matter warranted an updated editorial. We had written about it before but there was new information. Sometimes the new data changed the editorial stance but usually it just enhances a position taken.

For example, we’ve editorialized numerous times on medical marijuana, including once this week. It’s not that we want to belabor the issue but new developments dictated an updated editorial. When it was first put on the ballot, we editorialized against its passage. But voters still approved it. However, when it was instituted, it became ironically clear that it the law governing medical marijuana use was convoluted and confusing. Thus, another editorial urging law makers to clarify the law was in order.
Along these same lines, during the past year many local communities placed moratoriums on the distribution of medical marijuana until they could figure out what their best course of action would be. So, an editorial, in this case, supporting the communities was in order.

Sometimes, an editorial is dictated by the calendar. As you probably noticed, every year we write Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day editorials.

That’s because the message expressed last year warrants repeating to remind readers.
For example, the New Year’s Eve editorial cautioned readers about drinking and driving. We reminded them that there would be extra police patrols on the roads to catch those driving drunk.

Consequently, there are legitimate reasons to write about a topic again, although we don’t want to just repeat an editorial word for word. We would update information and discuss new developments. For example, we often use statistics in discussing drunk driving accidents and deaths. Unfortunately, there are new figures every year to use in an editorial.
Sometimes, writing a new editorial about a previous topic or issue just makes sense.