1. Middle Schools Report Rise in Drug Incidents
While marijuana legalization is in its infancy, Colorado has already witnessed some down sides. After
a little more than a year since recreational sales began, Colorado middle-schools report a 24 percent
increase in drug-related incidents, USA Today reports. While the schools have not reported which
drugs are involved in the incidents, experts directly attribute the rise to marijuana legalization.
Across the state, middle schools reported a total of 951 drug violations, which is the highest the
state has seen in a decade. The Denver Public Schools' Executive Director of Student Services, John
Simmons, says schools in his city witnessed a 7 percent increase in drug incidents (almost all
involving marijuana), from 452 to 482.
"According to our data, middle schools are where most people begin to experiment," said Simmons.
"It's much easier to stop someone from using in the first place than it is to stop it once it's started."
Marijuana use has been a problem for many years, but, due to increased social acceptance and
easier access, school officials say more students are trying the drug.
"We have seen parents come in and say, 'Oh that's mine, they just took it out of my room,' and that
sort of thing," said school resource officer Judy Lutkin of the Aurora Police Department. "Parents
have it in their houses more often, and the kids just can take it from home."
"Middle schoolers are most vulnerable to being confused about marijuana," said Dr. Christian
Thurstone, attending physician for the Denver Health Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
program. "They think, 'Well, it's legal so it must not be a problem.'"
Supporters of legalization point out kids do not go into marijuana stores and buy the drug, and
packages leaving stores do not market to children, according to the article.
"We have gone above and beyond to make sure that we are not marketing to children," said Meg
Sanders, owner of MiNDFUL, which operates in several cities in Colorado selling the drug. "We feel
it's our responsibility as a responsible business to card not just once but twice for any recreational
customer, and medical patients have to show several documents before they can purchase
marijuana."
Labels: children, Colorado, drug, drug-incidents, drug-use, legalization, marijuana, marijuana-
