Florida school district fires teacher for medical marijuana use

A Florida school district fired a teacher after learning she had been using medical marijuana prescribed by a doctor.

Allison Enright, who was a teacher at Space Coast Junior/Senior High School, told the school district about the medical marijuana from her doctor after a student pushed her down a flight of stairs and she had to take a drug test, Florida Today reported.

Enright said she did not realize her medical marijuana use was against school policy and that she only takes the pill containing THC due to a health condition.

Brevard County School Board voted 3-2 to terminate Enright’s employment, effective Wednesday.

Although medical marijuana is legal in Florida, the school’s policy still bans the substance as it could risk losing federal grants since marijuana is still illegal federally.

“I want to make it clear: I don’t do drugs,” Enright told the board. “I don’t smoke pot. I don’t get high. … I love teaching. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am. I have been at a loss without my students and colleagues. Space Coast high is my family, and I want to go back. Please, let me go back home.”

Multiple teachers defended Enright’s record and board members tried to come up with alternative ways to discipline Enright without firing her, but they all fell short, according to Florida Today.

“I can’t tell you how unfortunate it is that this happened,” said board member Cheryl McDougall. “I wish we could turn back the clock. But again, I feel like I’m bound to follow (my constitutional duty).”

Enright will go in front of the board one more time to review the decision.