Man accused of selling cannabis gummies to middle school student in Mastic Beach
The gummies were distributed to three other students who got sick after ingesting them at school, Suffolk police say.
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A man was arrested for allegedly selling cannabis gummies to a Suffolk County middle school student.
The gummies were distributed to three other students who got sick after ingesting them at school, Suffolk police say.
The incident happened in May at William Paca Middle School in Mastic Beach.
Police arrested 18-year-old Jahsheem Jones, of Mastic Beach, on Monday.
Jones is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
"It's just very scary," says Mastic Beach resident Laura Verbeeck.
"I don't want my kids getting sick or anything that can happen from it or any side effects," says one Shirley parent and resident, who wanted to be identified as Vinny. "Something definitely has to be done. They have to start paying more attention to what's going on in the school."
Another man was arrested earlier this year, also accused of selling marijuana gummies to middle schoolers in the same district.
As News 12 reported, nearly a dozen students were hospitalized at William Floyd Middle School in March.
Anti-drug advocates say incidents like these are becoming too common not just on Long Island but nationwide.
"This is not unique to any one school district, Nassau or Suffolk," says Steven Chassman, executive director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. "We're seeing hospitalizations increase exponentially for THC poisoning."
The William Floyd School District declined an interview but sent News 12 the following statement:
"We are grateful to the Suffolk County Police Department for their efforts in bringing this individual to justice. This unfortunate situation was addressed with the three students and their families when it occurred last May. We continue to educate our students throughout the school year, through topical lessons and special events, about the dangers of all drug use including cannabis and edible cannabis."
