Crook County teen marijuana possession cases rise

The Crook County District Attorney’s Office says it’s seeing more marijuana possession cases than ever since recreational marijuana became legalized in the state.

In 2015, the district attorney’s office handled 12 marijuana possession cases involving teens under the age of 18, and none involving youth under age 13.

Last year, the number of cannabis possession cases doubled, with 30 cases of marijuana possessions for teens under the age of 18 and 10 cases involving kids younger than 13.

District Attorney Daina Vitolins told NewsChannel 21 on Thursday that in four of the 10 cases involving younger kids, the students were taking cannabis to school.

“(In) each one of those cases, the youth brought marijuana to school and obtained from their parents and either tried to deliver it to somebody else or were caught of possession of that,” Vitolins said.

Vitolins said the kids took the marijuana from their parents or from an adult they know who smokes cannabis.

“It’s shocking to me,” Vitolins said.

Heather Kimball, a mother of three, said it’s a common problem making it into the schools in Prineville.

Although there are drug-free campaigns at school campuses in Prineville, Kimball said more needs to be done.

“Kids know to say no to drugs, but peer pressure is the big thing,” she said. “If other kids are doing it and those kids want to be cool, they’re going to try it, too,”

Vitolins said community leaders and the school district are working at curbing the issue and raising awareness among parents.

“Any time access is easier and kids can get marijuana more easily, of course you’re going to see a rise,” the DA said. “What concerns me is the age.”.

And so, a community which banned recreational marijuana sales is now trying to deal with cannabis in the classrooms.