PHS student allegedly smokes marijuana during essay presentation

17-year old arrested and taken to Remman Hall

Nate Hulings

of the Gateway

A 17-year-old Peninsula High School student was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly smoking marijuana in front of a crowd of 150 people, Pierce County Sheriff spokesperson Ed Troyer said.

The student was concluding an essay on the legalization of marijuana when he allegedly lit the blunt and began smoking, Troyer said.

Troyer said the student allegedly continued smoking the blunt until a school resource officer approached him.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department arrived at 9:15 a.m. and the student was taken to Remann Hall, the Pierce County Juvenile Detention Center. By the time authorities arrived, the student had allegedly swallowed the roach.

He is expected to be released later Tuesday.

“I guess he made his point,” Troyer said. “If you want to change laws though, there is a different way in going about it.”

Possession of a blunt is not a felony.

The student was taking part in a persuasive essay event at the school’s auditorium. The event is a monthly celebration through the PHS English department titled “Rhetoric rebels,” Peninsula Superintendent Terry Bouck said.

Bouck added that the student presented the same speech in class a few weeks ago, without the blunt.

“We believe in freedom of speech,” Bouck said. “However, we will not condone anything illegal in our schools.”

Reach Reporter Nate Hulings at 253-853-9243 or by e-mail at nate.hulings@gateline.com.