COMMISSION MEETING: The state Medical Marijuana Commission approved River Valley Relief's cultivation permit and approved NEA Full Spectrum's move to Jonesboro.

A student at Terry Elementary School in Little Rock ate a marijuana gummy that was brought to school by a classmate Friday, following similar incidents in Jonesboro and Russellville in recent months. 

The nine-year-old female student who ate the gummy was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital by MEMS and the school went on a temporary lockdown to limit the students’ movement while MEMS provided medical assistance. 

Advertisement

A Little Rock Police Department report on the incident said the child who brought the edibles to school had found them on her grandmother’s nightstand and thought they were candy. 

It was not immediately clear if the edibles were from an Arkansas dispensary. The police report states that the child’s mother said that her mother has a prescription for 100mg EdiPure gummies but, in Arkansas, doctors only certify patients’ conditions for eligibility for medical marijuana and do not issue prescriptions. Scott Hardin, spokesman for the state Alcoholic Beverage Control division, said an initial search of state inventory systems did not show any products called EdiPure but that a more extensive search would be necessary to be certain if such products are sold in the state.

Advertisement

Searches on WeedMaps and Leafly did not show any dispensaries in Arkansas selling EdiPure products. 

Terry Elementary Principal Holly Brown provided this statement to parents: 

Advertisement

Good afternoon, Terry parents,

I wanted to make you aware of an incident that occurred in one of our classrooms today.  One student brought edible gummies to school and offered them to another student who ate one.  This was brought to our attention by the school nurse.  

As soon as we were made aware, we immediately began our investigation, which included contacting the students’ families, MEMS, LRSD Safety and Security and the Child Maltreatment Hotline.  This was an isolated incident in one class.  The student who ate the gummy was transported to the hospital by MEMS for observation and treatment.  Terry went on temporary lockdown to limit movement in the hallways so MEMS could quickly provide medical assistance.  

Sadly, news reports throughout the country are highlighting the introduction of drugs to young people disguised as brightly colored candies.  Parents, we need your help in discussing the dangers of drugs and improper use of medicine with your child.  Please remind them to never take any medicine or foreign substance from others, even if that person is a friend or classmate, and that they should tell you or another adult if someone is offering them medicine or drugs.  Our school counselor will also be providing additional support through her guidance classes.

It takes all of us working together to ensure that our students are safe, and I appreciate the support that you provide to Terry daily.  

Sincerely,

Holly Brown

Principal

The event follows similar incidents in Jonesboro and Russellville.

In December, six students at a Jonesboro elementary school ate marijuana gummies brought to school by a student. The incident resulted in misdemeanor charges against the grandmother of the student who brought the gummies to school. 

Advertisement

Last month, three students at a Russellville elementary school ate gummies and were sent to the hospital. 

Officials said the Jonesboro incident involved gummies from California that were not sold at an Arkansas medical marijuana dispensary. A Russellville spokesman said he did not know the origin of the gummies involved.

Advertisement