Four Moreno Valley middle school students were sickened by cannabis edibles

Three students were taken to a hospital Wednesday after consuming an unknown substance at a Moreno Valley middle school.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the students ate marijuana gummies. "This is an active investigation and deputies are still investigating the incident to determine the origin of the substance and if any criminal acts were committed," Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Jerry Franchville said.

The distress call came in at noon Wednesday from the campus of Sunnymead Middle School, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. 

"We had students who did consume something,"  said Moreno Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Anahi Velasco. "They're getting checked out." Velasco declined to specify the substance that was ingested and prompted the 911 call. 

According to the fire department, multiple engine crews and paramedic squads were sent to the location and rendered aid to a total of four youths.

There were initial reports of a boy suffering from a possible drug overdose, but Velasco said that was not the case. 

Three of the victims were taken to nearby Riverside University Medical Center for further evaluation, according to the fire department. 

One juvenile declined to go to the hospital, an agency spokeswoman said. 

 "While marijuana is legal for adults to possess in California ... it is still illegal for children to smoke or use marijuana recreationally," Franchville said. "Marijuana must be stored where children do not have access to it."