Five students ingested marijuana Thursday afternoon at Skinner Middle School, and one student was taken to a hospital at the request of her parents, Denver police said.
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said the consumed marijuana was not in “a traditional edible.”
A Denver police officer told 7News that a student sprinkled marijuana on top of “rice crispy treats.”
One of the five students, a girl, was cited for having marijuana on school grounds, possession of alcohol by a minor and unlawful acts on school grounds.
The girl was released to the custody of her parents, Jackson said.
Principal Michelle Koyama issued a letter to parents Thursday afternoon, praising the students who notified school officials about the “unsafe and unhealthy choices” their classmates were making.
“Parents, please take this opportunity to remind your students of the dangers and consequences of using and/or possessing drugs and alcohol,” Koyama said in her letter. “It is imperative that we work together to teach our children to make good choices. Drugs, alcohol and tobacco are never allowed on our school campus. Students who bring these items to school face discipline under the Denver Public Schools discipline policy.”
The students notified school staff members, who called Denver police about 2 p.m.
“The kids did the right thing; they realized something was wrong and said something about it,” Jackson said.
Skinner Middle School, 3435 W. 40th Ave., is where to the building.
Two of the boys — a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old who police say each brought a handgun to school — were charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, a Class 6 felony. They also were charged with possession of a handgun by a juvenile, a Class 2 misdemeanor.
The third boy, age 12, faces a charge of explosive hoax, a Class 5 felony. An officer also found suspected cocaine and “hash” in his backpack, according to a statement of probable cause.
Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver district attorney’s office, said the boys .
The boys are accused of bringing the guns and device to school April 10. Classmates of the boys alerted administrators to the weapons.
Police said they do not believe the boys intended to harm anyone at the school, although the probable-cause statement shows the student who reported the boys indicated they possibly were trying to harm a teacher.
In both incidents, Jackson said it was imperative that police responded immediately.
“When you’re talking about children, it does up the ante,” he said. “In this climate, you can’t be nonchalant.”
Denver Post staff writer Jesse Paul contributed to this report.
