Chicago elementary school kids are rushed to hospital after eating weed-laced cookies in class
A routine school day turned into a real-life horror show when a batch of marijuana-laced cookies landed 11 elementary students in the hospital.
The unsettling incident unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Fort Dearborn Elementary School in Chicago when nearly two dozen children, aged 11 to 14, unknowingly ate cookies believed to be laced with THC.
Staff members said a student had passed out cookies to a group of kids in a sixth grade class who later got sick, sparking panic among staff, WGN reported.
As parents piled into the school for dismissal around 2pm, witnesses claimed up to five ambulances could be seen at the South Side campus.
Of the 22 students who may have consumed the edibles, 11 were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Fortunately, all were later released, but the incident left families shaken and demanding answers.
Parents picking up their children expressed alarm at how easily something so dangerous slipped into the school.
As parents piled into the school for dismissal around 2pm, witnesses claimed up to five ambulances could be seen at the South Side campus
'That's not cool. It's not. Check your kids' book bags,' parent Sharelle Russell told ABC7.
'Why ain't nobody checking to see why these kids are giving out cookies or any candy? Like, come on - they shouldn't be passing it out anyway.'
One parent, Trianna Jones, said her godson narrowly avoided consuming more of the cookie.
'He just said he tasted the cookie, and it didn't taste right. So he spit it out, and that was it. I don't think it was packaged or anything,' she told ABC7.
School officials immediately alerted parents and launched a response involving the Chicago Public Schools Office of Safety and Security.
In a letter sent home, the school's principal reassured families that the situation was handled promptly and in line with CPS policies.
'Safety is always my top priority,' the principal wrote. 'We immediately provided support to our impacted community members and notified their parents and the CPS Office of Safety and Security.'
The letter, obtained by WGN, indicated that the unknown substance was suspected to be an 'edible' - a food or drink item made with cannabis or other prohibited substances.
The principal also urged parents to speak with their children about the dangers of accepting food from others and the serious health risks of consuming unknown substances.
'Prohibited substances of any kind are not allowed at our school,' the letter stressed.
'You have to be careful what you leave out and have around your children,' parent Ethel Allen said. 'Parents, please pay attention.'
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