Greenville County Schools Combat Unregulated THC Products

By Emily Garcia

GREENVILLE — With the end of the school year nearing, Greenville County schools have, for the first time, a clearer picture of how popular THC products are among students. The district began tracking THC product possessions separately from other drug possessions after noticing an apparent uptick in their prevalence. This school year, THC product possessions accounted for 90 percent of all drug possessions and resulted in 42 percent of expulsions in the district.

The effort comes as the prevalence of THC among teens has become a nationwide phenomenon, according to a national drug use report.

How Popular are THC Products?

Prior to the 2023-2024 school year, THC products were lumped into the district’s tally of total drug possessions and drug usages. In a bid to prevent drug use at school, GCS has installed 300 vape-detecting devices in middle and high school restrooms. “While these devices have significantly contributed to our efforts in addressing these challenges, we ask parents and the community to join forces with us in safeguarding students from these products,” Waller said in a statement.

What’s the Law in South Carolina?

Marijuana isn’t legal in South Carolina, but THC is legal — so long as it comes from hemp. Hemp, which was legalized by the 2018 farm bill, is any cannabis plant that contains less than .3 percent Delta-9 THC. The hemp industry has taken this law to mean that it can manufacture products containing this chemical, so long as it remains less than .3 percent of the total weight. This means that the heavier a product, the more THC it can contain.

Is This a Public Health Concern?

Studies on whether the use of these chemicals has long-term health effects are limited. In the short-term, the impacts of these drugs range from drowsiness to paranoia, Polley said. “The greater risk is having it in the home with toddlers or young children,” Polley said, “That’s where we see most of the severe toxicity, and often it’s from edibles.” The most-recent report from the National Poison Data System found that, in 2022, 3,358 calls were made to America’s Poison Centers for exposure to Delta-8 THC. 30 percent of those calls were for children younger than five.

The concern drug prevention advocates have expressed is that, like marijuana, Delta-9 and its derivatives produce mind-altering effects in users. “We tell parents if it’s anything that alters their (children’s) state of mind…it’s not good for them,” said Martine-Helou Allen, founder of RIZE Prevention.

Few studies have been done on the addictiveness of these products, but research points to an increased risk of addiction and mental health disorders among people who use products with high concentrations of Delta-9 THC. Legal Delta-9 products contain small amounts of the drug, but product manufacturers have said it is enough to produce to “high” or euphoric feeling. However, there are avenues for products with illegal amounts of Delta-9 to make their way to market because South Carolina currently doesn’t mandate product testing.

To some extent, Polley said he thinks THC products might be replacing marijuana and alcohol as an experimental substance for young people. In other instances, they might be using THC as a means to self-soothe. “If they’re just trying to fit in with a crowd or do what friends are doing, that’s kind of understandable,” Polley said. “But some kids are truly hurting and having difficulties and this is kind of an acceptable relief for them.”

Conclusion

As the use of THC products continues to rise among teenagers in Greenville County schools, concerns about their safety and regulation persist. With lack of FDA-regulation and potential health risks associated with unregulated THC products, parents, educators, and policymakers are urged to address this growing issue to safeguard the well-being of students.