Gummy Bears Possibly Laced with Marijuana Oil at Naperville North High School

Twelve Naperville North High School students were transported to Edward Hospital in Naperville beginning about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday after students began complaining of fast heart rates, dizziness and dry mouths. Students told police that they thought the gummy bears contained marijuana oil, but are working with a crime lab to determine if that is true and whether any other substances contaminated the gummy bears.

An EMS Box Alarm was activated at 12:29 p.m. which assigned up to six ambulances to the high school and at least two ambulances from Warrenville and Lisle Woodridge FPD provided station coverage at Naperville fire stations. Edward Hospital spokesman Keith Hartenberger reported that all the students had been treated related to the ingestion of the gummy bears and released by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A 17-year-old Naperville North High School student was in police custody Tuesday, suspected of bringing gummy bears laced with marijuana to Naperville North High School.

Police are also investigating leads that other students may have been involved. Police are also tracing how the gummy bears got into the school, how they were distributed, and whether the students ate the gummy bears after being informed that it contained another substance.

The student suspected of bringing the gummy bears to school was in custody at the Naperville police station. Possible charges and school punishment are being considered.

Email to Parents about Students …

“This candy made those students both uncomfortable and sick, so they were taken to the nurse’s office for care. Each student had varying degrees of discomfort and subsequent treatment.”

— Naperville North Principal Stephanie Posey

Two other students were transported to Edward Hospital for unrelated medical issues, and one was admitted for observation late Tuesday afternoon.

Pharmaceutical grade Cannabis oil ordered online costs about $150 to $160 for 60 ml, and a reputable company produces product that is free of metals, bacteria, mold, and mycotoxins.

Recipes also exist to make Cannabis oil from recipes using marijuana or cannabis flower and a cooking oil, such coconut oil or olive oil. The cooking process takes up to eight hours and requires a strainer or cheesecloth, a grinder or blender, and a double-boiler, slow cooker or saucepan. Contaminants may be more likely in homemade cannabis oil.

Cannabis contains the chemical compound THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which is believed to be responsible for most of the characteristic psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Cannabis is known to cause …

altered state of consciousness, feeling “high”, very happy, euphoric, relaxed, sociable and uninhibited;

increased heart rate, bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils;

impaired coordination and concentration (impaired driving and machinery operation);

anxiety, feeling of panic, self-consciousness, and paranoia; and

distortions of time and space.

Overdosing can amplify sedation and disorientation, paranoia, panic attacks. Abdominal symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea can be symptoms of metal contamination during the cooking process, using poor methods or improper equipment.

The effects of cannabis are felt within minutes and usually reach peak effect in 10 to 30 minutes, but some online sources say THC make take 2 to 3 hours to take effect, and warn against overdosing by ingesting more THC when no effects are detected 45 minutes following the first ingestion. THC effects may linger for two or three hours. THC is highly lipid soluble and can be stored in fat cells potentially for several months. The Stored THC is released very slowly, and unevenly, back into the bloodstream.

THC can be detected in a urine test for up to 12 weeks depending on the quantity and frequency of use. A single exposure to THC can result in a positive urine test. The urine test can detect THC metabolites in urine 48 to 72 hours after use.

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