CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Sheriff’s Office has released new details about an incident that occurred last week at Unioto High School that led to the school’s lockdown and two students being arrested.
According to reports, around 1:47 p.m. on September 1, authorities were alerted to a situation at the high school. The incident began when a female student reported feeling unwell after consuming a THC edible. She described experiencing symptoms such as muscle tightness, chest compression, slurred speech, and redness in her right eye. The student had purchased the edibles, described as blue, 1″-2″ square gummies, allegedly from another student.
The student told investigators they initially consumed half a gummy during their third-period class and gave a quarter to two classmates. In her fifth-period study hall, she ingested another half, splitting it with a classmate. During lunch in the sixth period, she and another student each consumed another half of a gummy. However, it was during her seventh-period biology class that the effects of the edibles became pronounced, and her condition deteriorated. School staff recognized something was amiss, leading to an emergency response and her transportation to Adena Regional Medical Center.
Additional students who had ingested the same edibles were identified, and they were assessed by local EMS. Among them, one student denied consuming any gummies but exhibited signs of impairment, including dilated pupils, slurred speech, and unusual behavior. The investigation revealed that the edibles, known as “Zombie Death Drops,” contained Delta-6 and THC-P cannabinoids.
Law enforcement officials conducted interviews, and it was discovered that the gummies were initially acquired by another student who passed them out them to others. He admitted to selling the edibles to a fellow student, providing details of the transaction.
As a result, two students are facing charges related to contributing to the delinquency of minors and inducing panic.
The school was briefly placed on lockdown during the incident and emergency medical services were dispatched to evaluate and transport affected students to the hospital.
This incident has raised concerns about the accessibility of THC-infused products to minors and underscores the importance of communication between parents and children about substance use.
All students involved have been released from medical care, and the investigation, authorities say, remains ongoing.
Unioto High School, officials say, are cooperating fully with law enforcement in this matter.