Health: Edibles Invade Peninsula
Marijuana edibles, food items infused with cannabis, are rapidly becoming popular in high schools throughout the United States. They are especially dangerous because of their high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which causes hallucinations, distorts sensations and impairs memory. A study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2015 also found a link between the use of THC in adolescents and increased risk for a form of testicular cancer in males. Marijuana can be found in many different food and beverage types including brownies, cookies and candies. Prepackaged edibles are easier to distribute among students compared to other drugs because they are disguised as food and drinks. However, they contain more concentrated doses of THC and can take longer to affect the user than through smoking marijuana.
“The marijuana industry as a whole is subjected to minimal regulation, with no guarantee of accuracy in the THC levels published on dispensary product packaging,” school nurse Wendy Keller said. “Students ingest the edible and they can suddenly be at a toxic level [of THC].”
Recently, there have been multiple incidents involving marijuana edibles at Peninsula. Two students were hospitalized after eating THC-laced edibles at school or during school events. Keller believes that it is important for high school students to learn coping skills for stress rather than turning to drugs, and that they should have a plan to decline any offers of drugs from other teens.
“It is a matter of having a ‘script’ ready for such an occasion [when a student is offered drugs],” Keller said. “It really does not matter what is said [from one student to another who is offering drugs], whether it is the truth or a lie, as a long as the message of ‘I do not do that’ is communicated.”
Principal Mitzi Cress is deeply concerned about the use of edibles throughout the school and held two assemblies to confront the incidents involving marijuana.
“We almost lost a student because of [edibles], because they were passed out and laying in such a way that the oxygen was cut off,” Cress said. “Fortunately, we were able to find the student and take them to the paramedics.”
Additionally, there was a situation on Feb. 4 at formal where students ingested marijuana and were rushed to the hospital after they lost consciousness in the bathroom. Cress hopes that the informational assemblies and emails helped to bring attention to the serious issue.
“I think [the incidents] started a discussion, and that is important,” Cress said. “If we all know [about edibles], then maybe next time a student has them there will be a friend to say ‘Hey, I really do not think you should do that’ or to call the paramedics if they see someone go down.”
Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology and AP Statistics teacher Vararat Chaiyont believes that education is the most important factor in preventing the future use of edibles among high school students. She hopes that through education, students and parents will better understand the consequences of drugs, which include the possibility of death.
“The problem is that marijuana is legal in many states now, and people think it is safe, so students are more likely to do it,” Chaiyont said. “We need to educate the students who are not realizing how dangerous edibles [and other drugs] are.”
