Arizona School Officials endorse Marijuana initiative

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on September 24, 2016.

Several leading school officials in Arizona on Thursday announced their support for Proposition 205, the Initiative to ‘Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol’. They highlighted the much-needed revenue that will be raised for K-12 education if voters approve the ballot initiative.

“With our state ranked near the bottom in education funding, we can use all the help we can get. I therefore appreciate that the drafters of Proposition 205”, said Jesus Rubalcava, president of the Gila Bend Unified School District Governing Board.

Buck Crouch, President of the Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board said, “It is no secret that Arizona schools can use additional funding, and Proposition 205 would make a significant contribution toward that need. The projected estimate of $55 million for K-12 education annually would be very beneficial for schools, teachers, and students.”

School officials pointed out that the success of a similar ballot measure approved by Colorado voters in 2012. That measure (Amendment 64) fulfilled its promise to raise $40 million per year for public school construction.

Colorado’s regulated marijuana system brought in more than $135 million in 2015 and, according to a report, it has produced nearly $106 million in revenue in just the first seven months of 2016.

Prop 205 would generate more than $123 million in annual revenue for Arizona, including more than $55 million per year for the state’s school districts, according to a July analysis by the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

Prop 205 campaign received endorsements from key officials that includes Arizona School Boards Association Immediate Past President Jesus Rubalcava, who currently serves as president of the Gila Bend Unified School District Governing Board; Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board Vice President Devin Del Palacio; Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board President Buck Crouch and Board Member Daniel Hernandez; State Sen. Martin Quezada, who is a member of the Pendergast Elementary School District Governing Board, Balsz School District Governing Board Member Channel Powe, to name a few.

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