11 students sickened, taken to hospital after eating marijuana edibles at South Side Chicago school
Eleven students were taken to the hospital from an elementary school on Chicago's South Side Tuesday afternoon, after eating what officials said were marijuana edibles.
The students got sick just after 2 p.m. at Fort Dearborn Elementary School, at 9025 S. Throop St. in the Brainerd neighborhood. Fort Dearborn principal Kimberly Porter notified parents in a letter.
"We believe our community member may have ingested the unknown substance in the form of 'edibles,' which are food or drinks that are made with cannabis or other prohibited substances," Porter wrote. "Prohibited substances of any kind are not allowed at our school, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the health risks associated with consuming edibles, and to remind them not to accept food if they do not know where it came from."
Ambulances rushed to the school after the call that several students had overdosed just before 2 p.m.
Police said 22 students ingested what was later identified as edibles containing THC. Of those 22 pupils, 11 needed medical attention.
"I really would like to know where they actually got the products from," said Fort Dearborn Elementary parent Ethel Allen, "because it's not easily accessible like you can just go to the corner store and they're going to give it to a child, so it has to be an adult somewhere involved."
"How did it happen and why, and who brought it — the same questions everyone else should have," said Ora Knowles, whose nephew attends Fort Dearborn Elementary.
In a separate incident from the weekend, police in northwest suburban Wheeling said a woman, Dagmara Rouse, handed out chocolate edibles she didn't know at a local park. The kids, ranging in age from 9 to just 2 years old, were taken to a nearby hospital.
Rouse is facing 12 misdemeanors.
In Michigan, Detroit Public Schools Community District Supt. Nikolai Vitti is also sounding the alarm about kids and marijuana edibles.
"Once a week, we're dealing with an incident with the edibles where a child is being taken to the hospital," Vitti said.
Vitti called on legislators to change labeling and packaging, and increase awareness around edibles.
In Colorado, laws are already on the books that prevent edibles from looking like animals, people, or fruit — in an effort to keep them out of the hands of curious kids.
"Why would you bring it to the school?" said Knowles.
Back at Fort Dearborn Elementary in Chicago, parents say ultimately, the adult should be held responsible.
"You have to be careful what you leave out and have around your children," said Allen. "Parents, please pay attention."
