Pot tax money could be used to bolster college education

By Byron Ochoa

Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 | 2 a.m.

What’s on our teenagers’ minds? In its 59th year, the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum is intended to answer just that question. The annual gathering, which this year attracted about 1,000 students, provides an opportunity for public high school juniors and seniors to discuss issues of the day in groups of 40 or so students moderated by a community leader. Each group selected one of its participants to reflect on the experience. This column is written by Byron Ochoa, a senior at Southeast Career Technical Academy. His group discussed “Teen Topics.” Publisher and Editor Brian Greenspun is turning over his “Where I Stand” column to these young adults, who have something to say.

In our room at the Sun Youth Forum, we discussed problems affecting teenagers today. Some students boldly shared their opinions, while others kept to themselves. One topic, however, seemed to bring everyone to attention. As we discussed college, everyone stepped forth to answer whether higher education is a right and whether it should be made more affordable.

It was evident that higher education is a priority in the minds of students — but we could not reach a consensus on whether it is a right. While some believed it should be an entitlement, others felt people would abuse the system and that we would overcrowd colleges. Those who saw college as a right felt it was a worthy investment in the youth of America. In this way, we would be giving more students an education and encouraging them to go into higher education to fill thousands of careers in fields such as medicine or engineering, or to go to vocational programs to learn a trade. The fact of the matter is that a college degree is becoming what many consider “the new high school diploma.” The number of students high schools are sending to college has increased by 32 percent over the past decade and a half, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. As more students pursue college degrees, higher education becomes increasingly competitive, driving up demand and the cost of a college education.

When we moved on to the matter of making college more affordable, only a few solutions were offered. Among them was the legalization and taxation of marijuana to subsidize the cost of a college education in Nevada, in order to encourage high school graduates to pursue higher education. We can look to Colorado as a model for such initiatives. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, by July, $73 million was raised from taxes, licenses and fees within the marijuana industry for the fiscal year. Nevada could greatly benefit from such income by helping students afford and pursue a college education. This could be of service to not only public universities, but community colleges with vocational programs, encouraging youths to pursue careers in trades.

At the Sun Youth Forum, everyone was thoroughly invested in their higher education. To the youth of America as a whole, earning a college degree is a means of success through which we can achieve the American dream. As it stands, some view this dream as unattainable. Many young Americans are concerned about college and the cost of higher education, making it an important topic on the political agenda. Now that a professional career or skilled trade is one of the best ways to earn a living wage in the country, it is time that we give every American the opportunity to be part of the successful, working class.