Teens accused of selling drug-laced food to classmates

VISALIA, Calif. -- Visalia police said three teenagers sold marijuana-laced brownies and lollipops to their classmates at Mt. Whitney High School on Friday and seven of the students got sick.

Mimi Bonds, the director of student services at the Visalia Unified School District, said it started with one sick student in the office.

"One student in particular and that led to other students that were referred with some kind of reaction," Bonds added.

Sgt. Damon Maurice said the students got high off of pot brownies and lollipops laced with honey oil.

"These kids were obviously in over their heads," Sgt. Maurice said. "They had no idea what they were doing and they were quickly overcome by that concentrated cannabis."

Paramedics picked up six of the students and one went home with parents. Officers also showed up and traced the edibles back to three teenagers on campus - two boys and one girl, ages 14, 15 and 17. They were arrested and taken to juvenile hall.

"Kids will be kids, but it's not right. It shouldn't happen," said Mark Jansma, a parent of a student at the school.

Jansma said he saw the ambulances when he was picking up his daughter on Friday, but he wasn't sure what was happening. He said the school didn't explain it either.

"I was surprised because I didn't know anything about it," Jansma said.

The school district, however, did put out information. Bonds said the students who were sick are OK. She said they aren't in trouble with the law, but the district might punish everyone involved.

"Were they sold? were they shared? All that information determines where we take our next steps," Bonds said.

In the meantime, officers are looking at the evidence, including a backpack that was found with a few edibles inside it and the teens who were arrested could face criminal charges.