Fewer Students Arrested for Possession of Marijuana

Arrests for possession of marijuana at the four Falls Church-area high schools have gone down this academic year.

During the 2011-2012 academic year, Falls Church, JEB Stuart, George Marshall and George Mason high schools had a combined total of 10 student arrests for possession of marijuana.

Through the end of April this academic year, the schools only accounted for eight such arrests this academic year.

“Teens get marijuana from numerous people,” said Lt. Jimmy Cox with the Fairfax County Police Office of Organized Crime and Narcotics. “Parents, friends of parents, older brothers or sisters, suppliers of older brothers and sisters, suppliers in the school, and people who drive to Washington, DC and purchase it on the street.”

Here are the number of possession of marijuana in the four Falls Church-area high schools:

Falls Church High saw the biggest drop amongst the four schools going from six marijuana arrests in the 2011-2012 school year to just two this academic year.

Stuart had the biggest increase from one student charged with possession of marijuana last academic year to three in this one. Mary Shaw, a Fairfax County Public Schools spokeswoman, said the district wouldn’t comment on the findings, “because an arrest does not equal a conviction and some of these initial charges may have been dropped or modified and some may involve student discipline in some manner.”

Dr. Toni Jones, superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools, said student substance abuse issues – which include distribution, possession and being under the influence – are covered under school board policy 9.36 and regulation 9.36. The minimum punishment for a student found in violation of the policy and regulation is a three-day suspension for the first violation.

Cox said Fairfax County Police does not perform routine drug sweeps in their schools. At times, he said, there are repeat offenders.

Note - This article has been corrected to clarify that Fairfax County Police officials do not perform routine drug sweeps at schools.