POTOMAC, Md. — Two Montgomery County high school students were taken to the hospital after getting high on THC on Wednesday morning, according to school officials.
It happened at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Md.
In a letter to parents, school officials said that three students were found under the influence of THC, a chemical commonly found in Marijuana.
The students allegedly ingested the drug while vaping in a bathroom. Two students were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
School officials say vaping isn't allowed on campus.
The following is the full letter sent home to parents:
"Dear Parents and Guardians:
I am writing to inform you about a few serious medical emergencies that occurred during and after lunch today.
A student was experiencing chest pains during physical education class. A peer alerted school staff immediately and the student was able to receive medical attention from our school nurse. The student was transported to Suburban by ambulance as a precaution. This was an isolated incident.
This afternoon, it was brought to our attention that three students were under the influence and ingested THC, an illegal drug, through a vaping device. Two of the three students were transported to a local hospital by ambulance. I am in the process of scheduling a community meeting to talk to students and parents about the truths and dangers of vaping. Due to its increasing popularity and presence in schools, it is prudent to share some resources with you and elevate our community’s awareness on this issue. I also want to state clearly that vaping is not tolerated at Winston Churchill High School. There will be consequences if students are caught vaping on school property. We take this issue seriously due to the negative health effects vapingcan have on students and want to ensure that parents are aware of the risks around vaping.
Potential consequences:
- The vape/e-cigarette (i.e. Juul, Suorin) is always confiscated
- Parents are always notified
- A self-search is conducted
- Detention
- Article with reflection
- Possible citation from MCPD
- SASCA referral
- In School Suspension for repeat offenses
- Suspension for devices or cartridges containing THC
Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor produced by an electronic vaporizer or e-cigarette. The vapor usually contains nicotine and could contain other substances. The liquids that are vaporized come in many different flavors and might even smell fruity. For example, many of the flavors of these liquid concentrates, or ‘vape juices’, are sweet and even have names such as, cinnamon roll, marshmallow, bubblegum and cookies. Unlike cigarettes, vaping is smokeless and often odorless. This makes it very hard to detect. Some vaping devices can be used to vape THC oil, which causes a high similar to marijuana. For this reason, vaping is an act that rises to a level of significance higher than traditional tobacco use.
Vaporizers/e-cigarettes come in all different shapes. Some common styles look like a thick pen, a stylus for an iPad, a flash drive, or a small flask with a round chimney coming off the top. The devices are very small and can easily be hidden on a person or blend in with normal backpack items. Like cigarettes, stores cannot sell vaping items to people under the age of 18. However, students can purchase the devices online or buy from older siblings, friends, or family members. I encourage you to discuss this issue with your child and to engage them in an honest conversation about the negative effects of vaping.
Vaping and smoking are prohibited as stated in Montgomery County Public Schools Code of Conduct.
While we try to proactively educate students to prevent any incidents, please note that we will issue consequences at the highest level possible for those students caught vaping or juuling on school property. It is my hope that as a community we can support our students by keeping them healthy and safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your grade level administrator or counselor."