RESOLUTION OF THE PARAMUS BOARD OF EDUCATION
FEBRUARY 11, 2019
WHEREAS, Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature are presently considering legalizing marijuana for recreational use in the State of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the legalization of marijuana for recreational use is a relatively new initiative across various states, and therefore, the long-term impact of legalizing marijuana is presently unknown; and
WHEREAS, professional medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American College of Pediatricians have opposed the legalization of marijuana for recreational use due to the detrimental impact on children; and
WHEREAS, studies seeking to determine the impact of marijuana legalization are, at best, inconclusive and, at worst, show a negative impact on students; and
WHEREAS, a 2017 editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that “products that are legal only for adults inevitably find their way into the hands of adolescents….to a significant degree”; and
WHEREAS, while the Paramus Board of Education recognizes that there may be broader reasons to consider legalizing marijuana for recreational use, the Paramus Board of Education is responsible for maintaining a safe environment for our students, teachers, and staff;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Paramus Board of Education implores the New Jersey Legislature to create a commission to carefully study the long-term impact of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, and that such commission specifically determine the impact on underage students using data that are meticulously collected and thoughtfully analyzed.
The Paramus Board of Education strongly encourages the New Jersey Legislature to refrain from advancing any bill that legalizes marijuana for recreational use only after determining that such action will not have a negative impact on Pre-K to Grade 12 students.
Motion: William F. Holzmann
Second: Anthony Feorenzo, Jr.
Resolution Approved 9-0