Protect children from marijuana

After California voters approved Proposition 64, allowing marijuana to be used for recreational purposes, Fresno leaders must ask: What heritage do they intend for their children, and what habits must they toss aside so Fresno evolves without destroying its greatest asset, its children?

The moral terrain Councilmember Garry Bredefeld finds himself fighting over – to prohibit marijuana businesses from operating in Fresno – positions him as the underdog. However, this is not the time or occasion to step gingerly through a political and moral minefield.

If our leaders cede the moral terrain to the marijuana lobby, we will depart from a child-oriented approach to policy, and we send the wrong message to the public, particularly the young, that marijuana use is acceptable.

There is no longer any need to feel guilty about defending our kids against marijuana’s negative impacts. We must take action. We must foster an environment in which parents are aided and not thwarted in their efforts to raise their children in a drug-free community.

The city should take the position that revenue from sources and behavior that are not supported by good policy should be rejected, regardless of the amount of money generated.

This story was originally published March 10, 2017 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Protect children from marijuana."