Friday, February 18, 2022
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
SEVERAL students from Akhepran International Academy were taken to hospital yesterday after eating suspected marijuana-laced candies.
While police said 21 students “fell ill” and went to hospital, Dr Jacinta Higgs, the school’s founder, earlier told The Tribune only four children needed medical treatment.
Police said an initial investigation revealed the students allegedly purchased the edibles from a lunch vendor at the school before consuming them. As a result, a man and a woman have been arrested for possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to supply.
Yesterday, Dr Higgs said she was informed about the incident late yesterday morning after school officials observed strange behaviour among several students at the junior and senior level.
“Later this morning, one of our administrators who is a police reservist, (noticed strange) behaviours within one or two of the students and immediately alerted the principal,” she said when contacted for comment yesterday.
“They did a sweep in terms of going out on the campus grounds and they brought together and questioned 22 students based on investigation leading them to one student to the next and they provided information to police but we only (found) four of them who ate the candies in terms of their manifested behaviour.”
She also cleared up speculation that was circulating on social media yesterday.
“People were saying brownies or cookies but it’s little candies if I’m not mistaken. I haven’t seen them because everything was taken by the police officer, and we are waiting on them to confirm what was in the candies.”
As for the students’ condition up to press time, Dr Higgs said she was told that two are now at home, while the other two “may still be at the hospital.”
Dr Higgs said the incident is the first to ever happen in the school’s history and said teachers will hold informative sessions with students today in view of the shocking event.
“All schools are drug-free zones and even within a certain radius of the campus, no drugs are supposed to be transported or transmitted and therefore, unfortunately things are allowed to happen because we have heard about it in other schools but out here at Akhepran, because of my role in this nation we are going to make sure the fullest extent of the law is brought to bear and more importantly, we are going to work with the children in terms of being alert, vigilant and aware,” she said.
Last evening, police said officers were called to the school sometime before 12.30pm as a result of students “allegedly ingesting marijuana infused snacks during a break period”.
“The students then fell ill after consuming the snacks. The incident resulted in 21 students inclusive of 13 males and eight females being transported to the hospital to seek medical attention. Their condition is not known at this time,” police said.
An investigation is ongoing.
Comments
Topdude says...
What do you think will happen if marijuana is legalized? I fear for our children.
Posted 18 February 2022, 2:50 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
everybody will be screaming we never expected "this" to happen. Who could have known. Well form a committee to examine the issue and thanks to the drug vendors who generously put uo 200k for addiction therapy for children under 8years
Posted 18 February 2022, 2:57 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
gambling is a lot more addictive and harmful than weed. We legalized that with no problem.
If there's money to be made through the side door then the PLP will certainly approve it.
Posted 18 February 2022, 3:03 p.m. Suggest removal
carltonr61 says...
Billions are made yearly with no tax going to the peoples treasury. According to international records Marijuana is endemic here. Who wants it can get it. Legalization must come with stiff enforcement for rule breakers concerning minors. Marijuana will not do harm after an accidental use. The problems develop with usage patterns with like minded friends. It is up to parents to conduct intervention as sleep and eating house out of food - patterns are noticed.
Posted 18 February 2022, 4:15 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
75% of our youth have had some experience with drugs ...... We can't play saints with them. Reality
Posted 18 February 2022, 5:34 p.m. Suggest removal
choodot43 says...
From what I have read over the 24 hours, four students needed medical treatment. Four too many. And here is the rub...these products they obtained/ purchased contain Delta THC 8 which is not illegal in the USA. There is a store front seller 5 miles away from our home. (My wife is has been approved by her gynecologist and a state pharmacist for the right to purchase medical cannabis from the dispensary for her anxiety and is in a very well being as a result. Our Commonwealth's legislators are now moving towards recreational sales which will somewhat eliminate black market sales.) Delta THC 9, depending where one lives, is the legal/illegal cannabis in our country. Delta THC 8 is legal here as it is from farmers' hemp and is, in a manner of speaking, for adults, "Buzz-lite". Cannabis has many different cannabinols in its chemical make up of which many are being proved to be, when properly used, medically very beneficial. Having said all this...Where are the parents, not educators, monitoring their children? This all begins at home, yes?
Posted 18 February 2022, 6:07 p.m. Suggest removal
carltonr61 says...
Only the educational component is missing here. Marijuana prohibition and discrimination with mental stigma means a lot must be overcome. I am certified but there is so much secrecy on the roll-out.
Posted 18 February 2022, 7:33 p.m. Suggest removal
carltonr61 says...
We cannot import a foreign culture into The Bahamas, say Canadian one. We can learn from their diversity but we are a Bahamian model of multi generational homes that comprise infants, to great grand parents. Most kids are out of the nest in affluent nations. The normalization or de stigmaization of Marijuana should not impose a shock on our culture. With gambling normalization historically defended it is okay to see persons with walking sticks waltzing into gambling venues and grand parents have no problem sending a minor to purchase cigarette or liquor. Households where anything goes any thing goes. Bahamian Marijuana cultivators will be left out as fir the expedition of time foreign growers should only market their stuff under Bahamian primary ownership. Certification called for learning about every cause and type of pain relief that Marijuana could affect. Also, the cannibinoid systems impact from opioid, regular pain killers or natural herbs. Psychological components of stress management, which Bahamians over 35 experience opens the doors for data research from UofB. Bahamian parents must do more to investigate our children's peers and friends as cultures mix in schools.
Posted 18 February 2022, 10:29 p.m. Suggest removal
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