A Jacksonville mother says a vendor at a local fashion show handed her 17-year-old daughter a dessert that left the teen sick and headed for the emergency room, with paperwork later showing a positive marijuana test. Event organizers, the vendor and local police are now offering sharply different versions of what happened as the case draws public scrutiny.
Vanessa Merriweather told Action News Jax that her daughter was volunteering at the Bring Em Out Duval fashion show when a vendor offered her a sample from The Swookie Cookie. Designer Kenjulia Anderson also sampled a treat and later described cotton mouth, dizziness and numbness, according to the family. Both ended up in the emergency room, Merriweather says, and she and Anderson showed documents they say indicate an accidental marijuana poisoning, the station reported.
Where It Happened
The Bring Em Out Duval runway event took place June 28 at the WJCT Soundstage in downtown Jacksonville, according to the event listing. Billed as a streetwear and hip hop showcase, the show’s Eventbrite page lists the venue as 100 Festival Park Avenue.
The Vendor On File
The treats in question came from a vendor operating as The Swookie Cookie. Florida Department of State records list the business as THE SWOOKIE COOKIE LLC, with Detra Earnest named as an authorized person in records available through the Florida Department of State.
Owner’s Denial
Earnest denied having THC or cannabis products at the show and told the station that the word “infused” on her table referred to ingredients like sweet potatoes or edible gold flakes, not marijuana. “I did not have any at the event this past weekend,” she told Action News Jax, disputing the family’s account.
Organizer And Police Response
The organizer’s site, Bring Em Out Duval, lists the production company behind the show. According to accounts shared with media, the organizer posted a statement on Facebook saying no cannabis-infused products were disclosed on the vendor application and that the organizer was not present during the interaction described by the family.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has said its narcotics unit will review the matter and will share updates as they become available. As of now, authorities have not announced any charges.
Possible Legal Exposure
Under statutes published by the Florida Senate, it is unlawful for a person 18 or older to deliver a controlled substance to someone younger than 18, and penalties for delivery to a minor can include felony charges. The law lays out prohibited acts and enhanced penalties when a minor is involved, meaning investigators will be looking at whether any disclosure or age verification rules were violated if they determine a controlled substance was actually delivered.
Why Medical Staff Worry
Public health surveillance has documented rising cannabis-involved emergency visits among young people, and poison control as well as hospital data show sharp increases in pediatric edible exposures. A review from the CDC examined cannabis-related emergency department visits for people under 25, and an analysis in Pediatrics found edible cannabis exposures rose dramatically from 2017 to 2021, with clinicians warning that edibles can cause severe symptoms that sometimes require hospital care.
Merriweather says other vendors complained to production staff and that she wants answers about what was actually in the desserts that night. The event’s organizers and the vendor have disputed the family’s version of events. For now, the case sits with local police and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit, which say the matter remains under review.
