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School board directs drafting of stronger anti-drug resolution targeting THC, vaping near schools
Summary
After hearing Care Coalition data and a recent county board of health resolution, the Transylvania County Board of Education voted to ask the Care Coalition and the county Board of Health to draft a stronger resolution for authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) addressing THC, vape products and local zoning/legislative actions.
The Transylvania County Board of Education voted June 16 to ask the Care Coalition and the Transylvania County Board of Health to draft a strengthened resolution asking authorities having jurisdiction to take action within their purview on THC and vaping products near schools.
The board took the step after hearing that a June 10 county Board of Health resolution supports legislative changes to protect children and youth from addiction. Kristen Gentry of the Care Coalition had presented local survey data earlier and urged the board to pursue a more comprehensive measure that would close loopholes in current draft legislation.
Gentry told the board that existing bills “mention THC and banning it from all school properties,” but she said those bills do not cover THC-A and several other derivatives, nor do they address products such as Kratom or many Delta-8 items. “The THC actually is something that our SROs do a petition for charges since it’s considered a drug,” Gentry said, arguing the current legislative language leaves exploitable gaps.
Board members discussed options including asking cities to use zoning and display controls for retailers and sending a stronger resolution to state legislators to raise purchase ages and close chemical-derivative loopholes. Claudia (board counsel) said the district’s attorney could adapt language and that it would not require many substantive changes: “That’s certainly something we can put together if that is something y’all want to do,” she said.
A board member moved for the district to accept the product drafted by the Care Coalition and the Board of Health and to ask those groups to produce a version the school board can issue to AHJs—local zoning authorities and state lawmakers—requesting action within their jurisdiction. The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded.
Next steps: district staff will coordinate with the Care Coalition and county Board of Health to draft one or more resolutions directed to the appropriate authorities; the board requested the draft be returned for future consideration and formal adoption.
