Colorado Will Use Marijuana Taxes to Fund Bully Prevention Grants

Opponents to marijuana legalization often tout the archaic question, what about the children?, despite numerousstudiesthathaveshownthatmarijuanareformgenerallyreduces teen use.

Well, Colorado has the answer. Ever since the state began taxing retail cannabis sales, schools in the state have benefited, with $40 million already being used to fund new school construction.

Now, state officials are taking it one step further: Using parts of the estimated $66 million in surplus yes, thats right, surplus marijuana tax revenue to help fund bully prevention.

You see, last year, Colorado found themselves with a unique problem. When the state began taxing marijuana sales, they simply found themselves with too much money.

Under the state constitution, that money could have been returned to taxpayers. But instead, voters approved Proposition BB, which allows the state to keep excess marijuana taxes. State officials have earmarked that money, currently around $66 million, for funding education programs.

Now, using some of that extra money, the Colorado Department of Education is giving fifty lucky schools $40,000 each in grants for bully prevention and education, funded entirely by marijuana taxes.

As far as we know, were the only state that is providing such significant funds to prevent bullying in schools, Dr. Adam Collins, bullying prevention and education grant coordinator for the Colorado Department of Education, told Denvers KMGH-TV. We are excited to have these funds. Its a lot of money.

Each school who receives a grant will form a bully prevention committee of teachers, staff and parents. As part of the grant, schools will receive specialized training from a bully prevention coach.

Fifty schools in Colorado will receive ...