Authorities have made arrests in connection with two alarming incidents that shook the William Floyd School District last school year both tied to what police are calling a cannabis gummy case. The situation has sparked widespread concern among parents and educators about youth access to THC-infused products.
Police said Jahsheem Jones, 18, of Mastic Beach, was arrested Monday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from a cannabis gummy case at William Paca Middle School in May, when several students reportedly became sick after consuming marijuana gummies during the school day. Investigators believe Jones provided the gummies to one student, who then distributed them to three others.
The cannabis gummy case led to multiple hospitalizations and prompted a deeper investigation into how THC products end up in the hands of minors. Jones was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
This marks the second cannabis gummy case within the same school district in just a few months. In March, nearly a dozen students at William Floyd Middle School in Moriches were hospitalized after ingesting cannabis-infused gummies on campus. Following that incident, police charged Wilmer Castillo-Garcia, 22, of Mastic, with endangering the welfare of a child.
Local authorities say the repeated nature of these cannabis gummy case incidents underscores the growing challenge of keeping controlled substances out of schools. THC-infused edibles are often packaged to look like popular candy brands, making it easy for children to mistake them for harmless snacks.
School officials and law enforcement are now collaborating to strengthen education and prevention programs in response to the cannabis gummy case trend.
“These cases highlight how deceptively dangerous some of these products can be,” said one district spokesperson, noting that the cannabis gummy case has become a cautionary tale for other communities.
The cannabis gummy case incidents have also renewed calls for tighter regulation of THC-infused products, particularly regarding labeling and packaging that may appeal to minors.
As both defendants await court appearances, the cannabis gummy case serves as a reminder that what looks like a sweet treat can carry serious consequences not only for students but also for those who supply them.
