School Bus Driver Suspended Following Cannabis Candy Incident
- Two parents in Illinois reported that their children came home from school on Halloween with bags advertising cannabis edibles, which they claimed were given to them by a school bus driver. The bags contained candy and were labeled as “Blow Pops”, featuring a marijuana leaf, a warning to keep away from children, and a list of ingredients including “cannabis oil”.
- The Granite City Police Department stated that preliminary evidence suggests the candy does not contain cannabis, but the results from a crime lab test are still pending. The school district’s bus service, operated by First Student Inc., said that the driver and a monitor unintentionally purchased the bags to use as gift bags. Both employees have been put on administrative leave.
- This incident has caused concern among parents, with some requesting stricter hiring practices for bus drivers. One parent revealed she coordinates alternative transportation for her kids due to safety concerns with the bus service. This isn’t the first time complaints have been raised about the behaviour of Granite City bus drivers, with a previous incident in March involving a bus driver crashing a vehicle full of children.
Illinois Parents Alarmed as Children Receive Cannabis Edible Bags from School Bus Driver
In Granite City, Illinois, two parents reported their children received bags advocating cannabis edibles, filled with candy, from their school bus driver on Halloween. The candy did not appear to contain cannabis, awaiting confirmation from crime lab results, according to KTVI.
The bags, labeled “Blow Pops,” also showcased a marijuana leaf and a warning. The edibles ingredient list included “cannabis oil” and urged, “Keep away from children.” Samantha Beavin, whose 9-year-old son was amongst the three students receiving the bags, expressed her distress.
Although Granite City police believe the bags did not contain any cannabis products, Beavin raised concern as the candies were not individually wrapped. She stated, “Don’t take or eat anything that is open or not in the original package,” reinforcing safety measures during Halloween.
The Granite City School District contracts busing services to First Student Inc. The firm disclosed that the two employees, the driver and a monitor, who had accidentally purchased the bags, are now on administrative leave. This is not the first time parents have objected to Granite City bus drivers’ conduct. Earlier this year, a driver crashed a bus carrying children into parked cars.
Jeff Zgonina, whose granddaughter was on the crashed bus, called for stricter background checks of drivers employed by the firm.
Corin Donelson, a mother of multiple students in the district, stressed on the importance of safety and expressed her lack of trust in the bus services. “We really work hard to make sure that our kids don’t have to ride the bus,” she stated. KTVI’s attempt to inquire about First Student’s hiring practices for bus drivers resulted in no immediate response.
The Granite City Police Department provided preliminary findings on the candies stating no evidence of hazardous substances but confirmed crime lab tests for conclusive results.
First Student Inc. responded, explaining that the employees “mistakenly purchased this packaging to use as gift bags.” The firm confirmed the employees’ administrative leave, pending further investigation, and has enacted a policy forbidding the distribution of candy or food products.
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