SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CITES PROP. 203 RISKS

Editor:

As an elected official, I feel that we have an obligation to speak out
on proposed public policy that directly impacts our office and the
constitutional duties that we perform. Prop. 203, which seeks to
legalize "medical" marijuana in Arizona, is on the ballot in November.
In my opinion, Prop. 203 will negatively impact the health and safety
of our students, our schools and our communities.

Children and young adults will be allowed to have "medical" marijuana
cards and schools may not refuse to enroll them! Prop. 203
specifically allows children (with parental permission) to get
marijuana cards. Children who are marijuana cardholders will be
allowed to smoke before school, during lunch breaks off campus and
after school (500 feet away from the school). Likewise for
administrators, faculty and employees (including school bus drivers).
They can't be disciplined for testing positive for marijuana
metabolites. The school district will have to prove actual impairment,
but the burden of proving impairment will be on the school, and there
is nothing in Prop. 203 that provides guidance.

School bus drivers who are marijuana cardholders can smoke marijuana
just before driving students to and from school. Prop. 203 states that
"medical" marijuana can't be smoked on the bus and does not
"authorize" school bus drivers to drive "under the influence";
however, it goes on to say "EXCEPT a registered qualifying patient
shall not be considered under the influence of marijuana solely
because of the presence of metabolites or components of marijuana that
appear in insufficient concentration to cause impairment."

Please keep our schools safe and drug free. I will be voting no on
Prop 203.

Tim Carter

Yavapai County School Superintendent

Prescott