Wilson students marijuana use is reaching epidemic proportions

[Anonymous]

Teens have smoked pot widely since the 60s. Legalization has made users somewhat less discreet, but it also normalizes use to some degree which lowers barriers to use. For most adults recreational use is not a big deal and it's certainly less harmful than alcohol. I am concerned about potential harms of chronic use on developing teen brains.

OSSE has done a terrible job of educating DC teens on marijuana use in light of easier access and less social cost to using but that's hardly limited to DC public ed. The pro legalization advocates have really glossed over legitimate concerns about increased youth marijuana consumption and potential long term impacts. I wonder if the pendulum has swung too far from one extreme of baseless fear mongering towards another extreme of uninhibited use.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-pot-really-does-to-the-teen-brain/

[Anonymous]

You’d think a school system that has been unable to educate the vast majority of their students for over 50 years would be less hospitable to drug use on and around their campuses. You’d think.

[Anonymous]

Just because some vice is better than another doesn’t mean it is good or ok. Maybe pot is safer than alcohol... but it still is a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because some vice is better than another doesn’t mean it is good or ok. Maybe pot is safer than alcohol... but it still is a bad thing.

Besides the point. Legalization has lowered barriers to use and likely increased consumption above previous usage levels across demographics (if you think teens use a lot you should check out your boomer parents). The harms have not been well studied even as there is growing evidence of potential harm to teens. The misclassification of marijuana as a schedule 1 drug has been detrimental in this regard.

For comparison, vaping has created a new generation of slaves to the industrial nicotine complex. The harms of such products should be better understood before being released unregulated and unfettered by even a whiff of socially responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teens have smoked pot widely since the 60s. Legalization has made users somewhat less discreet, but it also normalizes use to some degree which lowers barriers to use. For most adults recreational use is not a big deal and it's certainly less harmful than alcohol. I am concerned about potential harms of chronic use on developing teen brains.

OSSE has done a terrible job of educating DC teens on marijuana use in light of easier access and less social cost to using but that's hardly limited to DC public ed. The pro legalization advocates have really glossed over legitimate concerns about increased youth marijuana consumption and potential long term impacts. I wonder if the pendulum has swung too far from one extreme of baseless fear mongering towards another extreme of uninhibited use.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-pot-really-does-to-the-teen-brain/

How is this OSSE’s vault exactly ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smoking before/at school is an issue as it will certainly hinder the kid's day. No one should be a heavy weed smoker before 25 when the frontal lobe completes forming. If you are ballsy enough to smoke before school, then you're probably a heavy weed smoker. Seems like a parental issue to me rather than legal however. Weed has always been easy to get for high school kids, its not like its changed since the DC law has changed. The law has barely changed anyway, its just decriminalized, still can't sell it legally. If you can't smell it on your kid and talk to them about it, then that's on you and not the state. It's definitely something you should discuss with your kids before they come face to face with it in school/at friends house.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teens have smoked pot widely since the 60s. Legalization has made users somewhat less discreet, but it also normalizes use to some degree which lowers barriers to use. For most adults recreational use is not a big deal and it's certainly less harmful than alcohol. I am concerned about potential harms of chronic use on developing teen brains.

OSSE has done a terrible job of educating DC teens on marijuana use in light of easier access and less social cost to using but that's hardly limited to DC public ed. The pro legalization advocates have really glossed over legitimate concerns about increased youth marijuana consumption and potential long term impacts. I wonder if the pendulum has swung too far from one extreme of baseless fear mongering towards another extreme of uninhibited use.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-pot-really-does-to-the-teen-brain/

That's because it's not their job. And they lack the authority to make it their job.

It's not legal to sell it or give it to someone under 21. This is an enforcement issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has not cracked down hard on anything. Not sure what you are talking about. DCPS became more strict about attendance after the Ballou scandal.
Drugs are definitely all over Wilson. Last year they had to call multiple ambulances during the school day because several kids became ill after ingesting some questionable drugs

Again, if you actually had kids at the school, you would know that the incident that you are referring to took place in April 2018 (TWO years ago, as I mentioned in my comment). Prompted by this crisis, the school began to work hard to get rid of kids selling hard drugs, and -- according to my Wilson student --- almost all were gone by the end of the year. There are currently far fewer kids selling or taking fake Xanax or other fentanyl products at Wilson.

Likewise the Ballou scandal happened in 2017, which prompted a DCPS-wide crackdown TWO years ago (as I mentioned in my comment).

Finally, according to the Wilson kids who are at my house every day, there was a lot more fighting in the school 4 years ago, but the school has worked to crack down on that as well. They don't call it expulsion, but several kids that I know of who got in fights are no longer at the school. One is at a charter, one is a Ballou, one is in military school and another is at Cardozo. My kid used to report big fights regularly, but says they hardly happen anymore.

So again, you know nothing about the school, have no kids there and have never set foot inside the building. Please go bother people on the MD, VA or private forum (or wherever your kids -- if you have any --- actually go to school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teens have smoked pot widely since the 60s. Legalization has made users somewhat less discreet, but it also normalizes use to some degree which lowers barriers to use. For most adults recreational use is not a big deal and it's certainly less harmful than alcohol. I am concerned about potential harms of chronic use on developing teen brains.

OSSE has done a terrible job of educating DC teens on marijuana use in light of easier access and less social cost to using but that's hardly limited to DC public ed. The pro legalization advocates have really glossed over legitimate concerns about increased youth marijuana consumption and potential long term impacts. I wonder if the pendulum has swung too far from one extreme of baseless fear mongering towards another extreme of uninhibited use.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-pot-really-does-to-the-teen-brain/

That's because it's not their job. And they lack the authority to make it their job.

It's not legal to sell it or give it to someone under 21. This is an enforcement issue.

In the simplest least realistic sense yes, but no because it's not because there is no enforcement. Just like schools teach public health, sex ed, alcohol and drugs, etc, there needs to be more frank discussions about the wide prevalence of pot and low barriers to use. DC's asinine barter system makes it harder to get alcohol than pot for underage users. As a parent I don't trust the schools to do and do this myself, but it's still remarkable how little the schools care about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teens have smoked pot widely since the 60s. Legalization has made users somewhat less discreet, but it also normalizes use to some degree which lowers barriers to use. For most adults recreational use is not a big deal and it's certainly less harmful than alcohol. I am concerned about potential harms of chronic use on developing teen brains.

OSSE has done a terrible job of educating DC teens on marijuana use in light of easier access and less social cost to using but that's hardly limited to DC public ed. The pro legalization advocates have really glossed over legitimate concerns about increased youth marijuana consumption and potential long term impacts. I wonder if the pendulum has swung too far from one extreme of baseless fear mongering towards another extreme of uninhibited use.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-pot-really-does-to-the-teen-brain/

That's because it's not their job. And they lack the authority to make it their job.

It's not legal to sell it or give it to someone under 21. This is an enforcement issue.

And some of those pro legalization folks comprise your representative government. They have every ability to address deleterious impacts on minors at a minimum through policy and resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has not cracked down hard on anything. Not sure what you are talking about. DCPS became more strict about attendance after the Ballou scandal.
Drugs are definitely all over Wilson. Last year they had to call multiple ambulances during the school day because several kids became ill after ingesting some questionable drugs

Again, if you actually had kids at the school, you would know that the incident that you are referring to took place in April 2018 (TWO years ago, as I mentioned in my comment). Prompted by this crisis, the school began to work hard to get rid of kids selling hard drugs, and -- according to my Wilson student --- almost all were gone by the end of the year. There are currently far fewer kids selling or taking fake Xanax or other fentanyl products at Wilson.

Likewise the Ballou scandal happened in 2017, which prompted a DCPS-wide crackdown TWO years ago (as I mentioned in my comment).

Finally, according to the Wilson kids who are at my house every day, there was a lot more fighting in the school 4 years ago, but the school has worked to crack down on that as well. They don't call it expulsion, but several kids that I know of who got in fights are no longer at the school. One is at a charter, one is a Ballou, one is in military school and another is at Cardozo. My kid used to report big fights regularly, but says they hardly happen anymore.

So again, you know nothing about the school, have no kids there and have never set foot inside the building. Please go bother people on the MD, VA or private forum (or wherever your kids -- if you have any --- actually go to school).

Not sure why you are trying to shut down any negative comments on Wilson. I have two kids at Wilson so you are not the only “Wilson” expert on this thread. The homecoming dance this year had a lot of drug and alcohol issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has not cracked down hard on anything. Not sure what you are talking about. DCPS became more strict about attendance after the Ballou scandal.
Drugs are definitely all over Wilson. Last year they had to call multiple ambulances during the school day because several kids became ill after ingesting some questionable drugs

Again, if you actually had kids at the school, you would know that the incident that you are referring to took place in April 2018 (TWO years ago, as I mentioned in my comment). Prompted by this crisis, the school began to work hard to get rid of kids selling hard drugs, and -- according to my Wilson student --- almost all were gone by the end of the year. There are currently far fewer kids selling or taking fake Xanax or other fentanyl products at Wilson.

Likewise the Ballou scandal happened in 2017, which prompted a DCPS-wide crackdown TWO years ago (as I mentioned in my comment).

Finally, according to the Wilson kids who are at my house every day, there was a lot more fighting in the school 4 years ago, but the school has worked to crack down on that as well. They don't call it expulsion, but several kids that I know of who got in fights are no longer at the school. One is at a charter, one is a Ballou, one is in military school and another is at Cardozo. My kid used to report big fights regularly, but says they hardly happen anymore.

So again, you know nothing about the school, have no kids there and have never set foot inside the building. Please go bother people on the MD, VA or private forum (or wherever your kids -- if you have any --- actually go to school).

Not sure why you are trying to shut down any negative comments on Wilson. I have two kids at Wilson so you are not the only “Wilson” expert on this thread. The homecoming dance this year had a lot of drug and alcohol issues.

The homecoming dance had kids taken away in ambulances. Some kids couldn't stand up. Look, this has to be a joint effort by the council members, community, parents and school. Call your council member and ask for law enforcement to monitor the tennis courts, Fort Reno and Tenley town, parents -WAKE UP- and engage your kids, and the school should kick out anyone who is obviously high. They're also allowed to check back packs. Many kids are binging on weed and alcohol. If you can smell it in the school then it's a major problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has not cracked down hard on anything. Not sure what you are talking about. DCPS became more strict about attendance after the Ballou scandal.
Drugs are definitely all over Wilson. Last year they had to call multiple ambulances during the school day because several kids became ill after ingesting some questionable drugs

Again, if you actually had kids at the school, you would know that the incident that you are referring to took place in April 2018 (TWO years ago, as I mentioned in my comment). Prompted by this crisis, the school began to work hard to get rid of kids selling hard drugs, and -- according to my Wilson student --- almost all were gone by the end of the year. There are currently far fewer kids selling or taking fake Xanax or other fentanyl products at Wilson.

Likewise the Ballou scandal happened in 2017, which prompted a DCPS-wide crackdown TWO years ago (as I mentioned in my comment).

Finally, according to the Wilson kids who are at my house every day, there was a lot more fighting in the school 4 years ago, but the school has worked to crack down on that as well. They don't call it expulsion, but several kids that I know of who got in fights are no longer at the school. One is at a charter, one is a Ballou, one is in military school and another is at Cardozo. My kid used to report big fights regularly, but says they hardly happen anymore.

So again, you know nothing about the school, have no kids there and have never set foot inside the building. Please go bother people on the MD, VA or private forum (or wherever your kids -- if you have any --- actually go to school).

Not sure why you are trying to shut down any negative comments on Wilson. I have two kids at Wilson so you are not the only “Wilson” expert on this thread. The homecoming dance this year had a lot of drug and alcohol issues.

The homecoming dance had kids taken away in ambulances. Some kids couldn't stand up. Look, this has to be a joint effort by the council members, community, parents and school. Call your council member and ask for law enforcement to monitor the tennis courts, Fort Reno and Tenley town, parents -WAKE UP- and engage your kids, and the school should kick out anyone who is obviously high. They're also allowed to check back packs. Many kids are binging on weed and alcohol. If you can smell it in the school then it's a major problem.

LOL! If an MPD officer actually arrested a young scholar from Wilson on a drug charge it would pretty much destroy their career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[b]The pot problem at Wilson is no worse than it was before legalization.[i] And as a parent, i’d much rather have kids smoking pot than drinking or doing other hard drugs. Frankly, I’d rather have them occasionally smoke pot than get hooked on vaping and addicted to nicotine.

This is very unlikely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The pot problem at Wilson is no worse than it was before legalization. And as a parent, i’d much rather have kids smoking pot than drinking or doing other hard drugs. Frankly, I’d rather have them occasionally smoke pot than get hooked on vaping and addicted to nicotine.

How is smoking pot better than vaping?! You’re still putting chemicals is your lungs. And please don’t reply that pot is natural because it isn’t regulated so you have zero idea of what is in it.

It’s the addictiveness of nicotine. Vapers will be hooked for life or have an awful time quitting. Teen pot smokers, like generations before them, will use for five or six years, then quit or use infrequently.

I don’t think you can compare the future pot smoking habits of today’s teens with previous generations. The big difference is that weed is now legal. In the past, once they became mature adults, most didn’t feel comfortable engaging in an illegal activity. Now that it’s no longer illegal, there wouldn’t be the same incentive to quit. It doesn’t have the same stigma, and they wouldn’t have to worry about being arrested. I think this generation of teens will smoke weed as adults in far greater numbers than years past.