STRONG POT -- Our toking high schoolers

[Anonymous]

OP, How long ago did you fall off the turnip truck?

"Even" The "good" ivy league early acceptance kids are smoking pot? *GASP*

Give your kid the facts -- the REAL facts, not scaremongering. Then hope for the best.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for terrifying me.

[Anonymous]

Fine, cuz we are all such hip parents we need not discuss or concern ourselves with the fact the shit out there could be synthetic or just too strong. Far from off th turnip truck I did it all - and dont want my kid to adopt the casual attitude about pot that some parent posters have offered. This is serious folks, so when u r not getting high and crossing your fingers (with a smile) that your kid is loving the mellow we knew, please pause. It is different.

[Anonymous]

College friend's son died recently of synthetic crap he bought with Bitcoin on a Tor website - from China or something. Truly terrifying.

I'm also shocked at the number of upper middle class kids in our south Alexandria neighborhood that are dealers at the high school.

[Anonymous]

I teach at a DCPS high school and I have a few kids who come in on occasion completely stoned. It's beyond buzzed. They are high to the point that they can't get up to walk out of the class. Their friends tell me that it's not the synthetic stuff. They're just getting some really strong stuff.

We've suspended a few who've been caught at the security checkpoints with it. I have no idea who they're buying it from, but there are definitely some selling it within the school.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I'm worried about this too. The synthetics out there are really dangerous, and kids have no way of knowing whether the stuff they are smoking is "pure" or some kind of dangerous combination that will kill them.

"Good" kids have always done drugs, in fact across the District, pot usage is about the same regardless of SES, so I'd be interested in ways to talk to my kids about this. They will certainly get offered pot and other drugs at some point, and I don't know what to say about it that won't make them just decide to lie to me (as I did to my own parents)

[Anonymous]

DCPS Teacher -- I know that they often make plans to smoke between classes and at lunch, even in restrooms. maybe we need to go back to banning cell phones in school, the constant texting and group chats make it that much easier to organize. not to mention they might pay more attention in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This could easily be on both public or private forum. The bust has happened, my sophomore was caught (after the fact) after smoking pot at a party. Plenty of the best kids were in attendance, and let's face it, it's confusing for everyone when it's legal, medical, semi-this or that. My concern, besides the fact we need to drill into DC's brain that 16 is not the time, if there is ever a time it is after their teen brain has had a chance to stay healthy, this ain't the pot from the 70's or 80's. My kid and the kids he were with were practically in a stupor, not a mellow silly high. A paranoid, long to dissipate experiment that is frightening. Anyone out there care to share their own experiences? I know I'm not the only parent shaking down my teenager when he can't open eyes all the way. Not interested in advice on parenting, I'm nipping this in the bud (pardon the pun) and while I know this is not entirely preventable, I am actively trying to educate my DC on the reasons this is potentially dangerous, and minimally stupid. Where are they getting the weed?

OP touches on the fundamental weaknesses of Initiative 71 -- it doesn't address the glaring disconnect between educational outreach and tacit endorsement. Yes it's only legal for adults, but there is little to no enforcement at any level. There is substantial evidence of the inherent danger to brain development for minors who habitually use. It may be safer than opiates or stimulants but it's not without harm. And the THC levels commonly found are ridiculous -- this isn't your parents baby boomer weed.

I supported decriminalization because it's a social justice issue -- anyone who uses reeks of the stuff it provided an easy cover for otherwise warrantless police intervention for casual use (ie parole offenders, fishing for outstanding warrants, excuse to stop and frisk etc). It's also a waste of criminal justice resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, How long ago did you fall off the turnip truck?

"Even" The "good" ivy league early acceptance kids are smoking pot? *GASP*

Give your kid the facts -- the REAL facts, not scaremongering. Then hope for the best.

Good kids, by definition, do not smoke pot. I don't care where they go to school or how smart their parents think they are.

[Anonymous]

As for the smell, they also "vape", using a vaporizer is odorless. Always a step ahead...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for the smell, they also "vape", using a vaporizer is odorless. Always a step ahead...

that's complete nonsense. vaping is not combustible but it is anything but odorless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, How long ago did you fall off the turnip truck?

"Even" The "good" ivy league early acceptance kids are smoking pot? *GASP*

Give your kid the facts -- the REAL facts, not scaremongering. Then hope for the best.

Good kids, by definition, do not smoke pot. I don't care where they go to school or how smart their parents think they are.

sadly they do. even high achievers may imbibe. I'd have a hard time believing high achievers abuse it, given that pot is not exactly a substance that promotes productivity. some kids have more IQ points to spare as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS Teacher -- I know that they often make plans to smoke between classes and at lunch, even in restrooms. maybe we need to go back to banning cell phones in school, the constant texting and group chats make it that much easier to organize. not to mention they might pay more attention in class.

I graduated from HS in 2000 in NYC. We smoked during lunch. We didn't have phones. We made it happen because we wanted to get high together.

I don't know what the answer is. 'Just say no' clearly doesn't work, and teaching kids the concept of moderation is unacceptable to some of you. What's the solution then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, How long ago did you fall off the turnip truck?

"Even" The "good" ivy league early acceptance kids are smoking pot? *GASP*

Give your kid the facts -- the REAL facts, not scaremongering. Then hope for the best.

Good kids, by definition, do not smoke pot. I don't care where they go to school or how smart their parents think they are.

NP here. Your post is about semantics and not productive. We all know that plenty of kids who do all the things that adults want them to do also get blasted most every weekend.

[Anonymous]

Of course "good kids" smoke pot. My daughter reports that she knows a number of high achieving high SES kids from Deal who have been regular potsmokers since 7th grade.