10 Los Angeles School Students Treated for Possible Cannabis Edibles Overdoses: Police

Cannabis can be mixed into foods or drinks. David McNew/Getty Images

Ten students aged between just 12 and 15 years old at Van Nuys Middle School in Los Angeles, Calif., are suspected of having overdosed, police said on  Thursday.

Authorities were called to the school shortly after 10:30 a.m.

The school is located just a short distance away from another school where a 15-year-old girl died, and three teenagers were hospitalized in September due to overdoses.

In a press release, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said that the students on Thursday were found to be suffering from “mild-to-moderate distress” after being examined by health officials,

Seven of the students were taken to local hospitals specializing in pediatric medicine, while three were released on scene.

Officials confirmed that the suspected overdose was not fentanyl-related but have yet to state exactly what substance was possibly ingested by the students.

Authorities combed the school premises to ensure that no other students had overdosed or were suffering from symptoms.

“With 50 firefighters on scene, in coordination with LA School Police and school personnel, crews systematically searched the entire school premises including hallways, classrooms, offices, and recreation areas to ensure there were no students unaccounted for,” LAPD said.

Hospital personnel are working to find out what substance or substances the students may have digested.

Overdose Not Due to Opioids

LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said the students possibly ingested Cannabis “edibles,” prompting adverse reactions but added that an investigation into the matter remains ongoing, The Los Angeles Times reported.

“It was not opioids; we didn’t have to administer Narcan,” Scott said.

In a statement, the Los Angeles Unified School District said medical assistance was requested “in an abundance of caution” but that the campus remained “safe and open for instruction.

“As a point of clarification, Narcan was not administered based on a preliminary evaluation. Los Angeles Unified will proactively contact emergency services in an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of our school communities,” the statement continued.

‘We take the health and safety of our students very seriously. Every effort is made to ensure our students learn in a safe environment.”

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, can be mixed into foods or drinks such as cookies, cakes, or brownies, which are known as “edibles.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consuming edibles with high THC concentrations can have “delayed or unpredictable effects and increases the risk of overdose or poisoning”.

While ingesting or smoking too much Marijuana can cause symptoms such as extreme confusion, anxiety, paranoia, panic, and severe nausea or vomiting, the CDC notes that a fatal overdose of marijuana is unlikely.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Los Angeles Unified School District for comment.