“CU Boulder Students Share Marijuana-Laced Brownies, Sending Professor and Classmates to Hospital”Leave Two Dead

CU Boulder Students Share Marijuana-Laced Brownies, Sending Professor and Classmates to Hospital

In an incident that drew national attention and raised serious questions about drug safety and consent, two University of Colorado Boulder students were charged after distributing marijuana-laced brownies to an unsuspecting college class in December 2012. What was initially meant to be a regular day in a history class turned into a medical emergency, leaving several individuals hospitalized and the entire CU Boulder community stunned.

The bizarre and dangerous stunt not only endangered the health of classmates and a professor but also highlighted the need for stricter drug regulations and awareness programs on campus.

The Incident

On December 7, 2012, students Thomas Ricardo Cunningham, 21, and Mary Elizabeth Essa, 19, brought homemade brownies to their History of Popular Music class at CU Boulder. The baked goods, however, were secretly infused with marijuana. According to police reports, Cunningham and Essa handed out the brownies to their classmates without informing them of the special ingredient hidden inside.

At first, no one suspected anything unusual. Students enjoyed the unexpected treat, and class proceeded as normal. However, it wasn’t long before things took a serious turn. Several students began feeling dizzy, nauseous, disoriented, and extremely anxious. One student suffered a panic attack severe enough to require hospitalization.

Even the class professor, who had also eaten a brownie, fell ill and was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Campus police were called to investigate the sudden illnesses, and it quickly became apparent that the brownies had been tampered with.

Immediate Response

Emergency medical services rushed to the scene to assist those affected. Three individuals — two students and the professor — were taken to the hospital. Fortunately, all were treated and later released without long-term health consequences, but the incident could have been much worse.

CU Boulder police acted swiftly once they realized that the brownies had been intentionally laced. Investigators were able to trace the source back to Cunningham and Essa through interviews with classmates and a search of the classroom.

Once confronted, the students admitted to baking the marijuana into the brownies without the knowledge or consent of those who consumed them.

Legal Consequences

Cunningham and Essa faced serious legal repercussions for their actions. Both were charged with multiple felonies, including:

Second-degree assault

Inducing consumption of a controlled substance by fraudulent means

Conspiracy to commit second-degree assault

The charges were severe because the act was considered intentional and because it involved the deliberate drugging of others without their consent, which under Colorado law amounts to assault.

In a statement, CU Boulder Police Chief Joe Roy expressed deep concern over the incident:
“This was a reckless and criminal act. People have the right to know what they are consuming, especially when it involves controlled substances. Secretly drugging people is not a prank — it’s a felony.”

Impact on Campus

The shocking event sent waves across the CU Boulder community. Administrators, faculty, and students alike were left grappling with the implications of what had occurred.

The university released an official statement condemning the actions of the two students, emphasizing that such behavior was completely at odds with CU Boulder’s values of respect, responsibility, and integrity. They also reminded students that possession and distribution of marijuana on campus remained illegal under federal law, despite Colorado voters recently passing Amendment 64, which allowed limited personal use of marijuana for adults.

“The safety and well-being of our students and faculty are our highest priorities,” the university’s statement read. “We take these matters very seriously and will continue to enforce all campus regulations and applicable laws regarding drug use.”

As a result of the incident, CU Boulder increased its educational outreach regarding drug policies and emphasized the dangers of drugging others, intentionally or otherwise.

A Broader Issue

This event unfolded during a time of shifting attitudes about marijuana in Colorado and the rest of the United States. Just a month earlier, in November 2012, Colorado voters had approved recreational marijuana use under Amendment 64. However, the amendment had not yet fully taken effect, and marijuana use on university campuses, particularly in federal institutions, remained illegal.

The case at CU Boulder served as a stark reminder that even as public perceptions about marijuana softened, the drug could still be dangerous, especially when consumed unknowingly.

Public health officials also highlighted the risks associated with edible marijuana products. Unlike smoking cannabis, edibles can take much longer to produce effects, leading to accidental overconsumption. When individuals are unaware they’ve ingested THC (the psychoactive component in marijuana), the symptoms can be frightening and dangerous, as seen in the CU Boulder classroom.

The Students’ Fate

Ultimately, Thomas Cunningham and Mary Essa faced disciplinary actions from CU Boulder in addition to their criminal charges. Both were suspended from the university pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

The legal process moved slowly, but the felony charges they faced carried the potential for significant prison time, heavy fines, and a permanent criminal record.

Neither Cunningham nor Essa made public statements following their arrests. However, their actions became a widely cited example in later discussions about drug education on college campuses, reinforcing the idea that “consent” extends beyond interpersonal relationships into every aspect of shared spaces and experiences, including food and drink.

Lessons Learned

The marijuana-laced brownies incident left a lasting impact on CU Boulder and served as a cautionary tale for other campuses nationwide. It taught students, faculty, and administrators valuable lessons about consent, trust, and the importance of clear communication when substances are involved.

CU Boulder strengthened its drug education programs, focusing not only on the dangers of illegal drug use but also on issues of consent and personal responsibility.

Campus authorities also began working more closely with local law enforcement to ensure that students understood the potential consequences — legal, academic, and health-related — of irresponsible behavior with controlled substances.

Conclusion

The 2012 marijuana brownie incident at CU Boulder remains a striking example of how seemingly harmless “pranks” can spiral into serious criminal offenses with lasting consequences. For the victims, it was a frightening violation of trust; for the perpetrators, it was a life-altering mistake.

As conversations about drug use and legalization continue across the country, the CU Boulder community has not forgotten the lessons learned that December — and continues to emphasize responsibility, transparency, and respect in all aspects of student life.