Public schools are underfunded across America. That is a well known fact. So when schools get an infusion of new revenue to hire more staff, it’s a big deal. In Colorado, tax revenues that were generated by legal marijuana sales are being used to hire more school nurses. Per the Huffington Post:
The state awarded nearly a million dollars’ worth of grants to schools throughout the state this week, reports The Denver Post. The grant money will be used by schools to hire health professionals such as nurses, psychologists and counselors and it’s composed of funds from marijuana tax revenue.
The more than $975,000 of grants handed out this week is part of a larger fund of $2.5 million created by the state legislature for schools to hire health professionals, says the outlet. The window for schools to apply for the rest of the funds closed last week.
Overall, a great deal of tax revenue generated by marijuana sales will help public schools in the state. In August, Education Week reported that more than $1 million of pot revenue is being used to help schools fund construction projects.
I would love to hear a marijuana opponent’s reasoning as to how this is a bad thing. I doubt they will ever take on the story head on, and instead will keep focusing on their tired, unfounded arguments about the harms of marijuana and how it’s a plague on our society. In Colorado, that couldn’t be further from the case. Marijuana is helping the public school system in Colorado, not hurting it, proven by every new person that is hired into the public school system as a result of marijuana tax revenues. I can’t wait until this starts happening in Oregon, where marijuana taxes will go to schools, law enforcement, and substance abuse treatment programs. Why isn’t every state doing this?
