LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — A South Carolina elementary school teacher is accused of having marijuana edibles in her student prize box, according to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon.
Victoria Farish Weiss, 27, is charged with possession of a Schedule 1 drug and out on a personal recognizance bond, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Weiss bought a mixed bag of candy from the Dollar General to give to her students and on September 23 two students were allowed to get a prize from the candy box, according to the department’s report.
The report says one student grabbed “Stoney Patch Kids” gummies believing they were Sour Patch Kids and Weiss told the student to grab something else but the child still left with the marijuana edibles. The other grabbed a Dum Dums lollipop.
“We became involved in this case Sept. 23 after we received word a Rocky Creek Elementary School student picked a pack of marijuana edibles out of a box full of candy Weiss used to reward students,” said Koon. “Detectives confirmed during interviews that Weiss took the pack of edibles from the student and told him to pick something else from the box. The student went back to the box and happened to grab another pack of edibles.”
After getting the prize, the student with the gummies went to an after-school daycare program and asked his teacher there to help him open the pack.
The after-school program teacher noticed that the bag was not Sour Patch Kids, did not open the pack, and contacted the child’s school, according to the responding deputy’s report.
After being informed about the incident, the Rocky Creek assistant principal found another pack of marijuana gummies in the prize bowl and the deputies found THC edibles in Weiss’ home, according to the arrest warrant.
The report from law enforcement also says Weiss was “hysterical” when she was approached by her assistant principal.
No students ate the edibles, according to Koon.
As of October 13, Weiss is no longer employed by Lexington School District One, according to district officials.
“The safety of our students is our top priority,” said Dr. Greg Little, Superintendent. “It is unacceptable for a staff member to potentially threaten the wellbeing of a child. We will continue to work to ensure all of our children have a safe environment to learn and grow. Rocky Creek Elementary has a sterling reputation which will not be tarnished by the actions of one person.”
The pack claims the gummies have 350 mg of THC. Sheriff Koons says these gummies are illegal in South Carolina.