11 Kids Hospitalized After Eating Marijuana Edibles at Elementary School: Reports
Eleven students, who range in age from 11 to 14, were subsequently hospitalized, according to reports
The students reportedly have since been released from Christ HospitalEleven students were hospitalized after ingesting marijuana edibles at a Chicago elementary school, authorities said.
Police said 22 students at Fort Dearborn Elementary School on Chicago's South Side consumed edibles that contained THC on Tuesday, May 13, according to CBS affiliate WBBM-TV and FOX affiliate WFLD.
Parents said the incident occurred after a student brought the cookies to school, ABC affiliate WLS-TV reported. Of the nearly two dozen students who ate the laced treats, 11 needed medical attention, police added.
The students hospitalized range in age from 11 to 14, according to CW affiliate WGN-TV.
In a letter to families obtained by WFLD and WGN-TV, the school's principal confirmed that students had ingested the substance, noting that support was 'immediately provided' to the 'impacted community members.'
Parents of the impacted individuals and the Chicago Public Schools' Office of Safety and Security were notified as well, the principal said.
"Safety is always my top priority, which is why I am writing to notify you of a situation impacting our school,' the principal said.
The principal later stated in the letter, "Prohibited substances of any kind are not allowed at our school, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the health risks associated with consuming edibles, and to remind them not to accept food if they do not know where it came from."
School officials and police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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The children who consumed the cookies were transported to Christ Hospital and have since been released, according to WFLD.
Trianna Jones told WLS-TV that her child spat out the cookie after noticing it 'didn't taste right.'
'I don't think it was packaged or anything," she added.
Many parents have questions about how the student came into possession of the cookies, according to WBBM-TV. Some believe the adult responsible for the child who brought the cookies to school should be held accountable.
"You have to be careful what you leave out and have around your children," said parent Ethel Allen. "Parents, please pay attention."
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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
A guide to Texas' special legislative session
Editor's note: This is an updated version of our Texas Legislature 101 guides originally published in 2023. Texas lawmakers will return to the Capitol on July 21 for a second attempt at regulating THC, the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plants of hemp and marijuana. This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a planned ban on most hemp products, which contain THC at lower levels than marijuana, as well as more than two dozen other bills that lawmakers had approved. Abbott has also called on lawmakers to tackle emergency preparedness in the wake of catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, as well as redrawing the state's congressional districts and passing conservative priorities such as banning abortion pills. Here's what you need to know: Why there's a special session During their regular legislative session in the spring, state lawmakers passed a bill that would have banned consumable hemp products like vapes, gummies and drinks that provide a similar high as marijuana. The broad ban would have taken effect in September, if not for Abbott's veto. He then ordered a special legislative session for lawmakers to regulate the hemp industry and address other bills he vetoed. The other vetoed bills on Abbott's agenda range from changes to the criminal justice system to water rights management, but many eyes will be on how lawmakers address a loophole in previous state laws legalizing hemp that allowed the sale of THC products — which spawned an entire new industry across Texas. Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, who has claimed that THC is driving young people to suicide and altering people's brains, championed the ban and even threatened to make lawmakers work overtime by preventing other important legislation from advancing if they didn't approve a ban. Experts say there are some health concerns, including that THC can be addictive, but they say it doesn't usually cause widespread psychosis or brain damage. The hemp industry and its advocates warned the ban could shutter the hemp industry and hinder access to the non-psychoactive CBD and CBG and to medical marijuana for patients in need of pain relief. Lawmakers did expand the state's limited medical marijuana program, but medical marijuana dispensaries still hope lawmakers will heavily regulate the hemp industry by putting in place age restrictions and banning synthetic delta-8 THC, which makes up the bulk of consumable hemp products. A special session lasts up to 30 days, and state lawmakers can only work on the governor's agenda items. After facing pressure from President Donald Trump's political team, Abbott has asked lawmakers to redraw some of Texas' 38 U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. He also directed lawmakers to focus on these areas following the deadly Hill Country floods over the July 4 weekend: Flood warning systems Emergency communications Natural disaster preparation Relief funding for the impacted areas Abbott also included several high-profile and controversial conservative priorities that didn't pass during the 140-day regular session, including: Banning cities and counties from hiring lobbyists to advocate for them at the Capitol Requiring people to use bathrooms that align with the sex they were assigned at birth Cracking down on the manufacturing and distribution of abortion pills During the session, which ran from January through early June, state lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have established a statewide plan to improve Texas' disaster response. House Bill 13 called for the plan to include 'the use of outdoor warning sirens,' like those used in tornado-prone Texas counties, and develop new emergency alert systems. State Rep. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said he would propose legislation to ensure people are alerted with sirens along watersheds instead of notifications on their phones that could be silenced or missed. How Texans can follow the session The Texas Legislature Online: Through the Legislature's website, you can find bills that have been filed and track their progress. You can easily create a personal list of bills to follow and set up email alerts for updates on legislation. You can also receive email alerts when notices of upcoming committee hearings are posted. You can also use the website to find links to broadcasts of floor debates or committee meetings in the House and Senate, as well as other resources, such as a glossary of legislative terms. The Bill Status Hotline: During the legislative session, you can call 877-824-7038 in Texas to get up-to-the-minute information about a bill's status, the legislative process, help getting a copy of the bill and contact information for a lawmaker's office, according to the Legislative Reference Library. But hotline staff cannot interpret a bill or transfer your call to a lawmaker's office. The Texas Tribune: You can also keep up with the latest on the Legislature through the Tribune's coverage. Here are some of the ways you can follow our work: Want to know how your lawmakers voted on key issues during the regular legislative session? Use our lawmaker lookup tool to find out. Subscribe to our newsletters. For summaries of the most important Texas news from us and other news outlets, you can sign up for The Brief, our free daily newsletter, or for The Briefly Weekly. You can also sign up for breaking news alerts or weekly RSS newsletters compiling all our stories on topics such as the Texas Legislature, education and health care. Follow our free WhatsApp channel, where we'll be sending updates at least once a week with essential news about the Texas Legislature. Find and follow us through this link. Tap the bell icon in the channel to turn on notifications for any updates. Listen to our weekly podcast, TribCast, where Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins, reporter Eleanor Klibanoff and other guests will discuss the latest news from the session. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and on our YouTube channel. Want even more updates? We also have a premium newsletter, The Blast, with exclusive reporting, nonpartisan analysis and the first word on political moves across the state. Subscribe and get access to our texting line for timely updates and alerts of new editions of The Blast. How can I participate in the legislative process? Contact your lawmakers: Texans can share their concerns and personal stories with their elected representatives, which can be the most effective form of advocacy, said Kathy Green, the director of state and federal strategy for AARP Texas who has more than 30 years of experience working in and around state government. 'If you've got stories about those actual things that affect your daily life, talk to your legislator about that,' she said. 'They need to hear the stories; they need to understand what people back in their districts are facing.' But it helps to be prepared with knowledge of the legislation, including its impact and possible costs, and about the lawmaker you're contacting, said state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. For example, don't lobby a legislator to support a bill that they authored, she said. Meeting with the lawmaker's staff can be just as important as meeting with their boss, Zaffirini added. 'Staff is very important in the process because staff makes the recommendations regarding the bill,' she said. 'So by working with a staff, [constituents] prepare the staff to be persuasive with a member.' Testify at a public hearing: You can register through kiosks at the Capitol or online while using the Capitol Wi-Fi. In the Senate, you may have to fill out a card in person during the hearing to testify. You can find more tips on how to testify here. During a special session, a Senate committee or subcommittee must post notice of a meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting, according to the state's legislative guide. House committees or subcommittees must also typically post notice for a public hearing held during a special session at least 24 hours before, unless the rule is suspended by a vote of the members on the House floor. It is more impactful to succinctly speak about your experience than it is to read written testimony or just cite facts, said Luke Metzger, the executive director of the advocacy group Environment Texas. But you can also submit written testimony or have someone else testify on your behalf. It can take time for legislation to come up for discussion in a committee hearing, especially if a hearing is scheduled for after a chamber meets for floor debate, so it helps to be prepared to be at the Capitol for a while. 'Planning is critical, and typically plan to spend the day and stay overnight if necessary,' Zaffirini said. It can also help to communicate with staff if you need to leave by a certain time, she said. Join an advocacy group: If you find an organization that is working on issues that matter to you, they can help you navigate and stay engaged in the legislative process. But it doesn't take a well-funded organization, said Shera Eichler, a government affairs consultant and former chief of staff for a state representative. 'Maybe there's a group of parents or a group of your neighbors that share the same common concerns, where you can all meet with the legislator together or send a letter together,' she said. Disclosure: AARP and AARP Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 13–15. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
5 days ago
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Truckin' To 2030: Europe's Green Horizon For Medical Cannabis & Hemp
Europe's cannabis sector is undergoing a profound transformation—one driven by evolving regulations, changing social attitudes, and rising institutional investor interest. Germany, as the continent's largest economy, stands at the heart of this transition, leading a dual trajectory in both medical cannabis and industrial hemp. What was once niche is now positioned as a cornerstone of sustainable health, clean materials, and innovative investment opportunities. You might say that the European industry appears to be built to last. Market Overview and Segmentation Europe's cannabis landscape is divided into two distinct segments: THC‑containing cannabis (above 0.3% THC), regulated primarily for medical and sometimes adult-use purposes; and industrial hemp (below 0.3% THC), employed in foods, textiles, bioplastics, cosmetics, and construction. While sharing a botanical origin—Cannabis sativa L.—each operates under its own regulatory framework, supply chain, and market focus. Understanding this segmentation is essential for investors and policymakers evaluating risk and opportunity. Globally, the medical cannabis market was valued at approximately €4.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach over €62 billion by 2030—recording a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55%. Europe, fueled by demographic shifts and legal liberalization, is forecasted to be the fastest-growing region. Meanwhile, the industrial hemp market is poised to triple to around €15 billion by 2030, according to UNCTAD projections, driven by surging demand for climate-friendly materials and plant-based nutrition. Regulatory Developments The eyes of the world are on Germany, as it has emerged as the regulatory focal point in Europe. Its Cannabis Act (CanG), enacted in 2024, removed restrictive quotas and significantly expanded medical access. A complementary Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) is under development, emphasizing pharmacy-based distribution while tightening telemedicine channels. In parallel, a new Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act is expected in 2026, poised to eliminate outdated restrictions and modernize hemp production regulation. On the EU level, the classification of CBD as a Novel Food is opening doors to wellness and nutrition markets previously inaccessible for hemp producers. Growth in Medical Cannabis Since medical cannabis legalization in 2017, German patient numbers have soared—with 300,000 individuals receiving prescriptions in 2024, estimated to grow to 840,000 in 2025. By 2030, the market is expected to reach €650 million. Innovations in formulation—such as high-purity extracts, dronabinol pills, and cannabinoid pastilles—are expanding therapeutic use across neurology, chronic pain, and oncology. Major operators like SYNBIOTIC SE are leading the charge, developing standardized dosage forms and investing in regulated production. Global companies such as Tilray, Aurora, OrganiGram, and Canada's Sanity Group (via its partnership with OrganiGram) are deepening their European presence, underlining the continent's rising magnetism for international cannabis investors. Industrial Hemp as a Sustainability Engine Industrial hemp, long undervalued, is now recognized as a strategic asset in Europe's green economy. German industrial hemp sales grew from €526 million in 2023 to a projected €3 billion by 2032 (CAGR ~22%). Applications range from hemp-protein powders to sustainable building insulation and biodegradable packaging. EU regulatory shifts—especially Novel Food approvals for CBD—further enable consumer-facing products. Companies such as Hempro International and new-era ventures targeting hemp-based construction materials and plant-based supplements illustrate the growing breadth of the market. Investment Opportunities and Strategic Challenges Europe is increasingly attractive to North American capital. SYNBIOTIC SE exemplifies a diversified strategy, combining medical cannabis and hemp under a unified corporate model. The publicly traded holding company expects revenues to climb from €26 million in 2025 to €47 million by 2027, with positive EBITDA forecasted in 2026. This dual exposure provides a hedge against regulatory divergence and price compression in either sector. David Hyde, founder and CEO of Hyde Advisory & Investments, plays a pivotal role in monitoring and facilitating cannabis investments in Germany. Through his firm's expert brokerage services, Hyde navigates complex regulatory frameworks, matches strategic partners, and helps investors identify high-quality medical cannabis assets in the German market. Drawing from his firm's insights, Hyde notes: Germany's medical cannabis market continues to grow, albeit more slowly than Australia's. While German market competition is increasing, there is lots of room for new brand/category entrants with proper market research, understanding of developed cannabis markets and the right distribution partner(s)." Several industry leaders are confident that Europe represents the next major frontier for cannabis investment. As Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf, put it, '[Europe is the next big market for cannabis after the U.S.]' Meanwhile, Irwin Simon, CEO of Tilray, emphasizes the scale of the opportunity: 'Germany's de-scheduling of cannabis opens the path to new opportunities in a potential $3 billion medical market; the European Union medical cannabis market is now projected to become $45 billion.' Constantin von der Groeben, founder of Demecan, reflects on Germany's growth momentum: 'The market is on a constant growth that is overwhelming,' while Beau Whitney, head economist at Whitney Economics, sees a broader European transformation underway: 'We can expect an accelerated expansion in the EU of legalised cannabis… If countries reform quickly, then the EU could supplant the U.S. as the major leader in global cannabis reform.' Yet investors must navigate risks: regulatory uncertainty (especially around telemedicine and CBD policy), intense price competition as production scales, limited banking integration, and macroeconomic volatility. The fragmented legal landscape further complicates capital deployment in cannabis-related ventures. Why Legalization Is Working The legalization model in Europe—and particularly in Germany—has shown measurable success. Its framework promotes transparency, standards for safety and quality, and integration into conventional health systems. The emphasis on licensing, standardized extracts, and court-regulated pharmacies mirrors a methodical approach, providing market certainty for investors and patients alike. Moreover, reform frameworks that prioritize illicit-market conversion—such as transitioning traditional, unregulated growers into legal cooperatives—mirror best practices championed by analysts like Whitney Economics. This conversion aligns economic incentives, reduces social harms, and demonstrates the sustainability of the legal regime. Outlook to 2030 As of 2025, both medical cannabis and industrial hemp are poised to become multibillion-euro pillars of Europe's economy. By 2030, medical cannabis in Europe could exceed €10 billion, while industrial hemp ascends as an eco-driven mainstay. Companies rooted in innovation, regulatory compliance, and product diversification will lead market consolidation. Germany will remain the driving force behind this evolution—acting as the regulatory pioneer and investment hub for cannabis in Europe. Institutional and private investors seeking long-term value should consider pan-European platforms that bridge both cannabis segments, such as publicly traded SYNBIOTIC SE. Their IFRS-audited integrated model reflects the shift to a new chapter in medicine and an innovative sustainable economy. END NOTES: CanG Gesetz 2024 – UNCTAD 2022 – Cannabissciencetech 2024 – CannaMonitor 2025 – Credence Research – Grand View Research – IMARC Group – Luminorecruit 2025 – MJBizDaily 2024 – Novel Food – OrganiGram/Sanity Group 2024 – Research And Markets 2024 – Reuters 2024 – Statista – Weedman 2025 –
National Geographic
5 days ago
- National Geographic
Why synthetic pot could be the future of pain relief
Photographs by Sergiy Barchuk This article is part of The New Cannabis, a National Geographic exploration into the most critical questions raised by today's stronger, stranger, ever more accessible weed. Learn more. They call it the holy grail of pain-relief research: a medicine that is comparable to the strongest opioids but lacks their potentially devastating side effects. When biophysicist and structural biologist Kaavya Krishna Kumar set out looking for a novel way to develop one, she knew she needed to start with a substance that hit the body incredibly hard. So she took to the seedier corners of the online forum Reddit, where she learned about an illicit street drug with a reputation for making people both very high and very sick. 'It's OUT OF THIS WORLD POTENT,' read one recreational user's post. 'A very, very small, almost invisible amount of powder skyrockets you into stoned euphoria.' The drug is called FUBINACA, and it's what's known as a synthetic cannabinoid, a molecule designed in a lab to target the same parts of the nervous system affected by tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Underground chemists have been making drugs like it since the early 2000s, when recreational marijuana was still criminalized in the United States and synthetic cannabinoids began catching on as cheap, quasi-legal alternatives. From their powdered form, they're typically dissolved into solvents, which are then sprayed onto plant shreds to be sold, with a wink, as incense or potpourri. 'Not for human consumption,' the label may read—a dodge against regulation. Sold under monikers like spice or K2, these gray market synthetics have raised public health alarms for both their toxicity and their contamination risks. The exact chemicals and their concentrations can vary from product to product, with side effects ranging from mania to heart attacks. But Krishna Kumar—then at Stanford Medicine, now at Weill Cornell Medicine—saw in FUBINACA a tool for better understanding how our pain-management system works. And after some clever molecular modeling, she and a team led by researchers from Stanford and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis devised an innovative way of modifying it. Earlier this year, the team published a study showing a FUBINACA-derived drug providing sustained pain relief in mice, seemingly without psychoactive or tolerance-building side effects. Such side effects have stymied progress on other would-be cannabinoid pain relievers, dampening enthusiasm for what once seemed like a promising opioid alternative. Now some scientists hope the research can breathe new life into that work—and perhaps open up even wider therapeutic frontiers. Fubinaca wasn't always a street drug. It was developed by Pfizer and patented in 2009, part of an effort to create 'a superpowered aspirin with no side effects,' according to former Pfizer chemist Darin Jones. Like THC, synthetic cannabinoids activate a powerful chemical receptor known as CB1. In humans and other mammals, CB1 is found on nerve cells in the brain and, crucially, on cells elsewhere in the body. It's known to influence not only the perception of pain but also sleep, metabolism, and memory, making it a promising target for pharmaceutical research. (A second cannabinoid receptor, CB2, seems mostly to regulate the functions of immune cells.) Of course, the path to market for any new drug must take into account future profitability. And while it's unclear just what scuttled Pfizer's research, Jones theorizes it had to do with the increasing legality of medical marijuana, which was suddenly 'pennies a pound' at proliferating dispensaries. But when the company published its patent, that became a blueprint for so-called garage chemists to replicate the formula and create analogues. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports that law enforcement has encountered hundreds of different synthetic cannabinoids, most of them manufactured in Asia. Variants of Pfizer's FUBINACA, the first of which was detected in Japan in 2012, are known as some of the most toxic. In 2014 dozens of deaths in Russia were linked to an analogue called MDMB-FUBINACA. Two years later, another variant was behind a mass overdose in Brooklyn, New York, that the media characterized as a 'zombie outbreak.' But Krishna Kumar hoped to pick up where Pfizer left off, harnessing that potency. First, she examined how MDMB-FUBINACA attached to human CB1 receptors in a dish. Compared to other synthetic cannabinoids, she found, it held tighter and activated effects more powerfully. Then, using a Nobel Prize–winning technology called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), she flash froze that FUBINACA molecule while it was affixed to CB1 and scanned the conjoined pair with a beam of electrons. The result was a 3D picture, down to individual atoms, of how the drug fit so well into a pocket, or binding site, on the receptor's surface—like a key in a lock. Chronic pain affects as many as one in five people worldwide. As early as the Middle Ages, Arab physicians sought dosages of cannabis that 'killed pain but did not intoxicate,' wrote historian Martin Booth. That image provided a starting point for designing new versions of FUBINACA that might, by stimulating the receptor in new ways, keep the original's potency while limiting side effects. For that, Krishna Kumar turned to Susruta Majumdar, a Washington University chemist and pharmacologist, whose lab had previously shown that activating a particular site on an opioid receptor could inhibit chemical reactions that lead to tolerance. Might this be possible for CB1? The researchers knew that CB1, a cousin to that opioid receptor, had a potential binding site with similar qualities—but it was deep inside the receptor and, in Krishna Kumar's cryo-EM snapshot, blocked by clusters of atoms. It was also the wrong shape to fit FUBINACA. So Majumdar's team started sketching bespoke attachments for the cannabinoid, chains of atoms that might help the molecule worm its way in. Meanwhile, Stanford scientists took another approach, animating the static snapshot using computer simulations, showing how atoms in the drug and the receptor moved around each other. The simulations revealed something surprising: The atom clusters blocking that tantalizing site sporadically moved aside, opening what biochemists call a cryptic pocket, allowing researchers a glimpse in. Tweaking their designs to fit, Majumdar's team made one other crucial adjustment in the hope of nixing FUBINACA's psychoactive side effects. The newly accessible site, it turned out, could accept a compound with a positive electric charge, which hinders a molecule from crossing the membrane separating blood from the brain. By tacking a charged group of atoms onto FUBINACA, researchers confined its activity to CB1 receptors outside the brain—where it can't get anyone high or act on the brain's reward circuitry, limiting risks of misuse and abuse. New versions of FUBINACA were injected into rodents experiencing various kinds of pain. And one variant, which the researchers called VIP36, showed indicators of relieving chronic pain from three different sources—inflammation, nerve damage, and headaches—even after days of repeated injections. True, says Washington University neurobiologist Robert Gereau, all that molecular tinkering had reduced the drug's potency—and thus its pain-relieving effects. But where that might have left other cannabinoids toothless, Gereau says, VIP36 remained 'effective in a range that is useful clinically,' precisely because FUBINACA packed such a wallop to begin with. VIP36 is still in its baby steps phase. It has yet to be tested in humans, who have fewer CB1 receptors outside of their brains than rodents do. And, for now, the new compound can't be taken orally, only injected. But even if the drug never reaches your medicine cabinet, the research could still chart new pharmaceutical paths. For one, it might occasion a reassessment from those skeptical of cannabinoids' potential as medicine—a constituency that includes the world's largest pain-research organization, the International Association for the Study of Pain, whose official position is that science has so far failed to prove cannabinoids either safe or effective. 'This is the perfect paper to help re-put steam into the cannabinoid field,' says Michael Burton, a neuroscientist and cannabinoid researcher at the University of Texas at Dallas. What's more, Majumdar says, there may be other cryptic pockets in other receptors related to CB1, many of which have nothing to do with pain. Some have been linked to heart disease, for instance, or substance abuse disorders. This opens an enticing possibility: What the researchers have learned about changing a receptor's behavior could help them tinker with a whole range of drugs. Majumdar is already planning to revisit a previous study that unsuccessfully targeted a hard-to-reach opioid receptor. He imagines redesigning antidepressants, maybe cancer drugs. 'Targeting diseases beyond pain is expected in the near future,' he says. 'We are just scratching the surface.' This story appears in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic magazine. Set Design: Mat Cullen, Lalaland Artists
