“Educator Embraces Legalized Pot! What Message Does This Send to Young People?”
April 12, 2010
For Immediate Release
For More Information Contact: Lana Beck (727) 828-0211 or (727) 403-7571
“Educator Embraces Legalized Pot! What Message Does This Send to Young People?”
(St. Petersburg, FL) Randi Weingarten, President of the United Federation of Teachers and an admitted past pot smoker, says that she will support marijuana legalization on November's ballot, but what kind of message does this send to youth?
According to Weingarten, her stance on smoking pot is, “Everything in moderation is pretty much fine.” She quickly added the caveat, “as long as it’s legal.”
“If some group pushes to make pedophilia legal will that be ok with Weingarten too, as long as it is practiced in moderation?” retorted Calvina Fay, executive director of Drug Free America Foundation.
Fay continued to express great disappointment in Weingarten. She said, “Educators, like it or not, are role models to students, and they have a responsibility to promote safe and healthy messages to young people despite their political beliefs. Publicly, I think Weingarten should have kept her mouth shut.”
“She represented herself as president of this teacher’s federation, so is this the official position of that organization? It is unclear if this is some ‘teachers for pot’ movement of which the public is unaware. Whatever it is, Ms. Weingarten certainly did not use good judgment,” concluded Fay.
Based on recent poll results, the public doesn’t want marijuana legalized. California voters would have to agree that it’s acceptable for their state to profit from a person’s addiction. Experts claim the cost from addiction and usage associated illnesses far outweighs the cost of any revenue possibly generated.
If you would like to set up an interview about this issue with Calvina Fay or other policy experts, please contact Lana Beck at (727) 828-0211 or (727) 403-7571.
Drug Free America Foundation is dedicated to fighting drug use, drug addiction and drug trafficking and to promoting effective sound drug policies, education and prevention. For more discussion please visit our blog at www.dfaf.org.
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