FIVE students from Doris Johnson High School were rushed to hospital last week after they allegedly ate “marijuana brownies” while on campus, police said.

Officer-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) Superintendent Samuel Butler said he could not confirm or deny what the teens ingested or if it was an illegal substance, but said his team is awaiting the results of “chemical analysis” from the Princess Margaret Hospital to determine the next move.

He said the students told his officers that they were given the brownies by a classmate and “got sick” a few minutes later.

An 18-year-old student was taken into custody and questioned in relation to the incident, but has not been charged, The Tribune understands.

“On Friday we got a report from the school about an incident where some children fell ill,” Supt. Butler said. “It was alleged that they may have participated in eating what was referred to as marijuana brownie. We have a record of at least five children who were taken to the hospital.

“We cannot confirm what substance they did in fact consume. When we went to investigate we were pointed to a student who allegedly supplied the kids. We found nothing in his possession and nothing in the possession of the children that were ill. So we are waiting for the hospital to give us a chemical analysis of what was in their system.

“So just to be clear, yes we got the report, yes there is a police investigation but we do not have a final determination from the hospital about what was in their stomach.”

Supt. Butler said police searched the home of the alleged teen supplier and discovered a small amount of marijuana at his residence.

“I left instructions for him to be charged with that offence but I am out of town and I am not sure he was,” Supt Butler said.

Education Director Lionel Sands said the Ministry of Education was informed of the incident and he is awaiting the report from the DEU.

“We were told that several students were ill as a result of eating cookies or brownies. I am told that another student gave them or sold them the cookies. I don’t know the origin of it but I was told that the cookies made them ill,” Mr. Sands said.

“I don’t know what was in it, there is an ongoing investigation to determine the nature of the cookies and where they came from and where the person who sold the cookies came from.”

The students have since been released from the hospital. Investigations continue.

Sancheska Dorsett, Tribune Staff Reporter

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