Georgia Middle School Teacher Charged for Letting Students Smoke Weed

A Chereokee middle school teacher may face up to three misdemeanor charges involving the use of cannabis and allowing minors to use cannabis. 40-year-old Christine Cantrell, who teaches at Teasley Middle School in Canton, allegedly allowed minors to smoke weed in her home.

On Tuesday, December 16, Cantrell was charged with possession of marijuana less than an ounce, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and keeping a disorderly house (allowing illegal activity to take place in her home), all of which are misdemeanors in Cherokee County.

According to Phil Price, commander of the Cherokee County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, the biggest penalty Cantrell will face may come from the school district at which she is employed.

“Obviously, the greater impact would be the adverse impact it may have on her employment. She deals with a lot of people at an impressionable age. Whatever her beliefs are about the use of marijuana, it is still against the law in Georgia,” said Price.

Cantrell’s husband, 45-year-old Jeff Cantrell, was also arrested on similar charges. The Cantrells were both released on a $3,000 bond. “A CCSD administrative investigation into these allegations is underway; the teacher in question will be reassigned to a non-classroom setting until the investigation is concluded,” said Cherokee County School District spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby.