RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif — Several third-grade students at Robert J. McGarvey Elementary School in Rancho Cordova became sick after eating candy later found to contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

The incident, confirmed by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, happened just days before Halloween. It has left parents uneasy and prompted warnings from school and emergency officials.

Andrew Ward, who lives across the street from the school and has three grandchildren attending McGarvey Elementary, said he saw emergency vehicles arrive at the campus.

“I saw the ambulance truck come up to the school. I was like, What’s going on over there?” Ward said.

Ward added that the situation is especially troubling with Halloween approaching. “Those are concerning in general, that they will be packaged to look like candy when they’re a drug, so the packaging got to be better,” he said.

In a letter sent to families and obtained by ABC10, McGarvey Elementary Principal Carrie Mitchell confirmed that several students became ill after eating the THC-infused candy. She said the packaging closely resembled regular treats and that the student who brought it to school was unaware it contained the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Mitchell thanked fire and emergency medical crews for their quick response and urged families to take precautions at home — checking packaging carefully, keeping recreational or medicinal substances locked away, and reminding children not to share food or candy at school.

She also reminded families that McGarvey Elementary is a smoke-free and drug-free campus, noting that possession or use of intoxicating substances can lead to suspension or expulsion. The letter encouraged parents to monitor what students bring in their backpacks and talk openly with children about safety.

Sacramento Metro Fire Capt. Mark Nunez said cannabis gummies and other THC products sold in dispensaries often resemble regular candy.

“Today’s candies that come from dispensaries look exactly like the candy that you would buy in a grocery store, very similar packaging,” Nunez said. “But the one difference is that a dispensary is required by law to have symbols on there, or the wording on there that it contains THC or marijuana.”

Nunez said parents play a key role in keeping kids safe this Halloween. “We want to make sure that kids have a great and safe trick or treat, but it starts at home, making sure that the candy itself is safe,” he added.

Ward called the incident a wake-up call for families to take responsibility when things go wrong. “It seems like that student’s parents have to be notified. Look, this took place because of some actions that you did or didn’t do, and you need to clean that up,” he said.

The Elk Grove Unified School District is directing families to its Youth Development Office for support and resources. ABC10 has reached out to the district for an update on the students’ conditions and did not receive a response at the time of this publication.

Watch more: How California Got Its Shape | Bartell’s Backroads

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif — Several third-grade students at Robert J. McGarvey Elementary School in Rancho Cordova became sick after eating candy later found to contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

The incident, confirmed by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, happened just days before Halloween. It has left parents uneasy and prompted warnings from school and emergency officials.

Andrew Ward, who lives across the street from the school and has three grandchildren attending McGarvey Elementary, said he saw emergency vehicles arrive at the campus.

“I saw the ambulance truck come up to the school. I was like, What’s going on over there?” Ward said.

Ward added that the situation is especially troubling with Halloween approaching. “Those are concerning in general, that they will be packaged to look like candy when they’re a drug, so the packaging got to be better,” he said.

In a letter sent to families and obtained by ABC10, McGarvey Elementary Principal Carrie Mitchell confirmed that several students became ill after eating the THC-infused candy. She said the packaging closely resembled regular treats and that the student who brought it to school was unaware it contained the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Mitchell thanked fire and emergency medical crews for their quick response and urged families to take precautions at home — checking packaging carefully, keeping recreational or medicinal substances locked away, and reminding children not to share food or candy at school.

She also reminded families that McGarvey Elementary is a smoke-free and drug-free campus, noting that possession or use of intoxicating substances can lead to suspension or expulsion. The letter encouraged parents to monitor what students bring in their backpacks and talk openly with children about safety.

Sacramento Metro Fire Capt. Mark Nunez said cannabis gummies and other THC products sold in dispensaries often resemble regular candy.

“Today’s candies that come from dispensaries look exactly like the candy that you would buy in a grocery store, very similar packaging,” Nunez said. “But the one difference is that a dispensary is required by law to have symbols on there, or the wording on there that it contains THC or marijuana.”

Nunez said parents play a key role in keeping kids safe this Halloween. “We want to make sure that kids have a great and safe trick or treat, but it starts at home, making sure that the candy itself is safe,” he added.

Ward called the incident a wake-up call for families to take responsibility when things go wrong. “It seems like that student’s parents have to be notified. Look, this took place because of some actions that you did or didn’t do, and you need to clean that up,” he said.

The Elk Grove Unified School District is directing families to its Youth Development Office for support and resources. ABC10 has reached out to the district for an update on the students’ conditions and did not receive a response at the time of this publication.

Watch more: How California Got Its Shape | Bartell’s Backroads