Parents charged after THC candy sickens students at Moorhead middle school

Two Moorhead parents are facing first-degree felony drug charges after police said suspected THC candy shared at Horizon Middle School sickened about 10 to 12 students and sent two for medical evaluation.

Police were called to the school at about 12:40 p.m. Monday, May 18, after several students became ill following candy brought to campus by another student. Two of the affected students were taken to a medical facility, while the others were released to parents or guardians. A family member later told MPR News that one student became dizzy and nauseous after taking a bite of a sour-strip-style candy that did not taste right.

The Moorhead Police Department said Wednesday, May 20, that officers arrested Martin Jay Hulst, 40, and Amanda Rhae Hulst, 43, after executing a search warrant. Investigators said they recovered suspected THC flower, cartridges and wax, along with psychedelic mushrooms and large amounts of cash. Police took both adults to Clay County Jail, and multiple juveniles in the home were referred to Clay County Social Services.

The school incident quickly became a broader school-safety warning for parents. Moorhead Police Chief Chris Helmick urged families to talk with children about not eating candy or food unless they know exactly what it is. Moorhead Area Public Schools Superintendent Brandon Lunak said keeping drugs out of schools starts at home.

Horizon Middle School principal Spencer Stowers also sent a message to families emphasizing student safety and noting that emergency medical services evaluated the affected students. Police said some of the students were initially uncooperative, but investigators later learned more about what happened.

For Moorhead families, the case shows how quickly a simple piece of candy can become a medical and criminal matter inside a school. The arrests, the felony charges and the referrals to social services now put the focus on the home as much as the classroom, with officials warning parents to watch for unfamiliar candy, packaged sweets and anything a child cannot clearly identify.