2 Pittsburgh high school students hospitalized after eating "unknown edible candy"
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two Brashear High School students were taken to the hospital after they ate "unknown edible candy" and got sick, Pittsburgh Public Schools said.
KDKA-TV's Alexandra Todd spoke with law enforcement and a store that sells edible THC and CBD legally to learn more about what happens when ingested and how to avoid it in school.
School officials are still investigating how this happened earlier today. It also brings up questions on what edibles are, what happens if taken, and how can we keep kids safe in school.
A Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson says on Wednesday that four students ate edible candy at Brashear High School. Two of them got so sick that they needed to go to the hospital.
"When you eat an edible, because they do have that THC that's psychoactive when you take it, it will be absorbed into the stomach, so you will feel high," Michelle Son, a Relief and Recreation employee, said.
EMS determined they were stable, with high heart rates.
"Everyone does react to THC very differently; I would say the experience is per individual," Son said.
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe says students should avoid accepting anything from a peer at school.
"You should never take anything, aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, anything from any student at any time, because you really don't know what may be inside a capsule, a gel cap, anything like that," Sheriff Slupe said.
Though he knows that not caving to peer pressure is hard, it is the stronger choice.
"The bully-type people that force you to take something, first of all, they're not your friend. They never will be if they're going to be doing something like that. For you to say no and walk away is the absolute strongest and best decision that you will make for your own health, safety, and welfare."
It's not helping matters that there is some misinformation and confusion about edibles and the difference between THC and CBD.
They're all legal for those 21 and older. While medical marijuana comes from authorized dispensaries, there are stores in Pennsylvania that sell legal versions, like Relief and Recreation in Robinson.
"We sell 100% legal products; they range from CBD that is non-psychoactive, and then we sell recreational THC products that are psychoactive, which means they can get you high. In order to go on that side, you have to be 21 and older," Son said.
Both Sheriff Slupe and Son say it's important to know what you are taking and where it came from instead of trusting the unknown.
"The main difference to going to someone on the street versus a store like us is one we focus on education, you know what you're getting. You know how you're going to feel. We do break it down for you," Son added.
Since the incident at Brashear involves minors, no more information has been shared.
Remind kids not to accept anything offered to them at school that isn't from the nurse.
