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Colorado Will Use Marijuana Taxes to Combat Bullying
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State to give schools $3 million to teach bully prevention.
Published on September 30, 2016

Colorado’s marijuana taxes could soon be used to help prevent school children from becoming victims of bullying.

According to The Denver Channel, the state is planning to utilize its surplus of marijuana taxes (money allotted under the voter approved Proposition BB) to bring the hammer down on bullies across the state. A portion of the estimated $66 million will be distributed to around 50 schools for this purpose through grants provided by the Colorado Department of Education.

This means Colorado students could soon have some much needed psychological fodder in their social arsenal when it comes to dealing with bullying -- all thanks to the taxed and regulated cannabis industry. Colorado’s Department of Revenue shows that marijuana taxes have become one of the largest revenue generating outlets the state has to offer, with more than $117 million collected so far in 2016.

Around $3 million has been set aside for the program, with grants worth up to $40,000 being awarded to schools interested in participating.

"It's a lot of money,” said Dr. Adam Collins, bullying prevention and education grant coordinator for the CDE. “It's a great opportunity for schools to apply and make sure the social and emotional wellness of their students is taken care of."

There is no doubt that bullying has become one of the most distracting and devastating problems school-aged kids have to deal with while trying to get an education. Some reports show that nearly 30 percent of all children in grades 6 through 12 have been bullied at some point, with 20 percent of the teens in their high school years reporting the same.

Sadly, learning to effectively deal with bullying could be a student’s only fighting chance at seeing peaceful days once again. Reports show that anti-bullying laws do very little to remedy the problem because they often bring about more, intensified abuse. In order for a bully to get into trouble for violating these laws, a victim is often required to snitch them out – an action that regardless of whether the person is 10-years-old or 40 can lead to stiff repercussions under the unwritten law of the streets.

Colorado’s new bully prevention program is just another benefit of the state’s fully legal cannabis trade – perhaps providing other states that might be considering a similar move to understand ways to maximize the performance of this new cash crop.

Several more states, including California, could legalize recreational cannabis markets in the upcoming November election.

Colorado schools have until October 21 to submit an application for the grant.

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Mike Adams is a contributing writer for MERRY JANE. He also writes for High Times Magazine and Cannabis Now. You can follow him on Twitter @adamssoup and on Facebook.com/mikeadams73
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