In a few months, we will find out whether any of the initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana proposed by several different groups—including the Marijuana Policy Project and Arizonans for Mindful Regulation—will be up for vote this November. 

If  MPP's measure is the one to make it through, marijuana sales could raise at least $40 million in revenue annually to go toward funding education.

Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas completely opposes legalizing weed, and she doesn't give a shit about the possible economic benefits on both education and healthcare that would come from taxing marijuana sales at 15 percent (per MPP's initiative).

Douglas issued this statement:

By using drug money to educate our children, regardless of the drug we choose, we’re creating a world where we’re funding our schools by betting against the people graduating from them, and I cannot morally support that stance. How can we tell our kids, in one breath, not to do drugs, and in the next, tell them that drugs bought their health textbooks? How do we maintain the authority to tell them not to deal drugs when the state of Arizona is running a cartel?

There is also the potential for government abuse when we create a revenue incentive for the state to increase drug consumption in our communities. I agree with legislative leadership, including House Education Chairman Paul Boyer, that maintaining a drug-free school system is a cornerstone to creating a bright future for our students.

All Arizona children deserve a great education. I believe we need a system that is based on what is best for all of our children. When we look for ways to fund that system, we must not be tempted by potential profits from evil drugs like marijuana. We owe it to our children to find a more responsible way to ensure our schools have the resources they need to succeed.

Initiatives have until July 1 to gather more than 150,000 signatures to land on the ballot.