By Hayley Day
A sixth grader allegedly distributed marijuana brownies to classmates at the Friday Harbor Elementary School on Nov. 8. The student was also sent to the emergency room that day after allegedly eating the brownies.
Elementary Principal Diane Ball called 911 when the responsible student became sick during an assembly and he was taken to PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. He was released that day.
Three students admitted to San Juan County Sheriff’s Department investigators that they ate a piece of brownie. Only one felt an effect from the drug, and told officers he was “a little sleepy.”
The student allegedly tried to distribute brownies to about five sixth graders. Involved students told officers they were not notified of the marijuana ingredient until after consumption.
According to the deputy’s report, the student distributor told some there was a “secret ingredient” and others heard rumors of the brownies being laced.
The distributor showed symptoms of marijuana use after eating several brownies, according to a student in the officer’s report. The responsible student allegedly offered the brownies as early as first period, as well as on the playground. The sheriff’s office was notified of the event by 11:30 a.m.
A public meeting to discuss the incident will be held at 6 p.m., Nov. 10 at the FHES cafeteria with Ball, teachers, the San Juan County Sheriff and San Juan County School District intervention prevention specialist.
The sheriff’s office received permission by the student’s mother to search the home. The student told officers that the marijuana brownies came from his home. Brownies were found in a locked dining room cabinet, which the mother unlocked for officers with a key from a kitchen shelf. Alcohol and candy were also locked in the cabinet. The candy was locked in efforts to ration treats to the child. Officers found the home to be safe and clean, with no obvious signs of drugs.
“This was an isolated incident,” said San Juan Island School District Superintendent Danna Diaz. “The school responded quickly and effectively and the students were very honest. They do not want this kind of behavior at school and really value having a safe learning environment.”
A discarded brownie was taken from the school to the Washington State Patrol Laboratory to be tested. Child Protective Services have been notified and the case is being reviewed by the San Juan County Prosecutor’s Office. The school performed disciplinary action on the student, immediately.
The distributor initially reported he was sick from a gifted “cookie with a leaf in it,” according to Diaz. When the sixth grade class was questioned by school staff, they found the afflicted student had distributed marijuana brownies.
One student told school staff that the responsible student also had a bag of marijuana in his pocket. Another overheard the responsible student telling another student his plans to distribute brownies the day before.
By the afternoon, an email explaining the incident was sent to the parents of all 67 sixth grade students. The next day, parents of the school’s 408 students were emailed about the incident and the planned meeting.
