There has been a growing concern with a new vaping device in high schools across the country.
The concern is over a vaping device called “Juul.” It contains nicotine and therefore cannot be possessed by anyone under the age of 18. However, there has been an increased number of reports to the Jefferson Police Department of minors being caught with the devices at Greene County High School. Superintendent Tim Christensen has expressed his concern with the growing trend of the vaping product.
Under the Greene County School District Code 502.7 no student is permitted to possess such devices on school grounds. Disciplinary action can include a substance abuse prevention program, along with suspension or expulsion. Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse talks about the consequences that juveniles face regarding this matter.
“When a student is caught with that vaping device and/or tobacco of any kind, not only do they face penalties from the school, which would be three days suspension, those types of things, and loss of eligibility for sports, they also will contact my department and an officer will go out and follow up with a citation for possession of tobacco.”
Clouse points out that the first offense is $100, the second offense is $250 and the third or subsequent offense is $500. Clouse points out that since the device contains nicotine, it is covered under the tobacco section of the Iowa Code.
To see information regarding the Juul device, the school district put out a YouTube clip on it. Click the link below to see the video clip.