Elementary school student brings THC gummy to school, sharing them with other students
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After a Prescott Elementary School student was caught sharing THC gummies with other students on Tuesday, the school’s principal J.J. Wilkins sent out a message to parents.
In part, saying, “I cannot stress enough how serious this is. Not only does bringing these products onto school grounds violate school policy, it is against Nebraska law for children to have these items and it is dangerous for children to use these products.”
The type and dosage of the gummies that the student shared is currently unknown, but according to the owner of Sweetwater Hemp Company, those details are crucial when considering this case.
“I mean, [with] higher potency, you’re going to have more of the psychedelic effects on it,” said Mayo, who also described the difference between hemp-based gummies and marijuana-based gummies to Channel 8.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main compound found in marijuana that causes a high, when ingested.
“THC can be eaten either in a medical [use] or it can be recreational or it can be bought as a hemp-derived [product],” said Mayo.
“Hemp-derived would just be under 0.3% total THC, which you could buy anywhere in Nebraska at any smoke shop or any place that’s selling THC/CBD products. Medicinal, you could go across state lines and buy that or recreational, you can go across state lines and get that as well,” he said.
Mayo also adds that regardless of dose, THC products are not deadly and using them is a personal choice however, access should be restricted to adults only and parents should be proactive before an incident like this occurs.
“It’s like talking about any other prescription drug or alcohol, as long as they’re educated and they know what’s going on, they can make better decisions, and then as a parent, just put it someplace where you know they can get to it,” said Mayo.
It’s unclear how the Prescott student got the gummies in the first place, but regardless, Principal Wilkins says students should not be taking or eating food from other students.
The CDC has an even stronger warning when it comes to THC products, citing negative effects from them like difficulty thinking, reduced coordination and potential addiction; symptoms they say can be worse in younger users.
Mayo’s response?
“You can read lots of different things about THC. You’ll read, you know, very reputable places that say it’s not addictive at all. It really depends on where you look, what dosage you’re taking, and all these things,” he said.
Going on to say, “Because if it’s accepted by, you know, over 40 states that it is a medicinal product, I mean, how harmful could it be to you? Also, nobody has ever died or had a fatal dose of THC,” said Mayo.
At Prescott Elementary, health staff evaluated all students who ate the gummies and have not publicly reported any adverse reactions.
The school reported the incident to LPD for further investigation and says the student responsible for sharing the gummies will face appropriate consequences at school.
