4 NJ charter school students taken to hospital after eating drug-laced gummies

EWING TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- Several students at a New Jersey school were taken to the hospital after allegedly eating weed gummies.

Officers responded to STEMCivics Charter School in Ewing Township justbefore 9 a.m. on Monday after two students were feeling sick.

When they arrived, four students were transported to nearby hospitals as a precaution after ingesting suspected cannabis gummies, according to the Ewing Police Department.

School officials said the two initial students allegedly admitted to the school nurse that they had taken the gummies. Two other students also went to the nurse later.

Officials said the matter was referred to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency for further investigation.

Action News reached out to school officials, who said all the students were okay and were home from the hospital on Monday.

The students will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, the head of schools, Leigh Byron, told Action News.

It is unknown where they got the gummies, but officials said that they were taken at school.

Our data journalism team found statistics from the New Jersey Department of Education showing that incidents of marijuana in schools are on the rise.

Between the 2021-2022 school year - which included some remote learning - and the 2022-23 school year there was a 37% increase to 6,012 incidents.

People we spoke to say there should be more education and discussions about drugs in schools.

"It all starts at home. With the gummies. Anything starts at home when it comes to the kids," said Kirk Barnes of Trenton. "So talk to the parents and start with the community first."

"In life in general you're going to be around other kids," said Kia Wilburn of Ewing. "Whether they're ingesting it by gummies or smoking it however - you should know it's your personal choice."