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Uploaded: Wednesday, September 5, 2012, 9:53 AM                                             

Palo Alto teens arrested for arson
Boys allegedly set construction fence on fire at Jordan Middle School

by Sue Dremann
Palo Alto Weekly Staff

Posted by Local-Youth-Make-Bad, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 11:19 am

> and located lighters that police believe were used to start

> the fires, Apple said.

Lights on teenagers as proof of arson? Really? Hopefully these kids will confess, and save the DA having to make that case in court.

Posted by Solon, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 12:39 pm

Another example of why marijuana is dangerous and inappropriate for teens

Interferes with brain development and judgment

Posted by Marijuana is poison, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 1:45 pm

Marijuana is a POISON. These kids were obviously smoking joints, then high and intoxicated on the poisonous chemical THC, decided to burn a fence down. THANK GOD they did not burn a house, school or start a brush fire.

BAN MARIJUANA. MAKE IT ILLEGAL AT ALL COSTS.

Posted by musical, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 3:24 pm

Now I'm curious about the legal definition of "rolling papers".

Posted by Smoke, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 4:13 pm

The story did not mention marijuana, only rolling papers. Get a grip.

Have you people been watching "Reefer Madness" too often? Far as I know, inhalation of marijuana smoke does not provoke property crimes. Sleepiness, maybe, and the munchies.

Posted by Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 6:07 pm

Evidence based research proves that smoking pot during adolescence causes a permanent reduction in IQ and a higher risk of schizophrenia.

After 25 yrs smoking pot caused less permanent brain damage and a high risk of COPD.

If adults want damage their brains in this way they can-less competition for the rest of us.

Smoking tobacco in adolescence also damages brain development-as does alcohol.

All chronic smokers started before the age of 20 yrs-most before 18yrs-

Cigarette papers are used for 2 things

Smoking pot

Smoking tobacco

Neither is legal or safe for teenagers

Posted by musical, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 7:20 pm

I think those "rolling papers" are what I use between my microscope slides. How can paper be illegal?

Posted by pa, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Sep 5, 2012 at 10:17 pm

Here's an even better question, how is it legal for a minor to possess cigarettes but not rolling papers?

Posted by also musical, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 6, 2012 at 9:47 am

believe it or not, rolling papers are also used to clean part of a certain musical instrument (and perhaps others I don't know). Perhaps there are other lesser known uses, too...

In any case, it sounds like additional proof is needed beyond confronting teens in the area

Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Sep 6, 2012 at 12:23 pm

Time for Zig Zag bail bonds! Glad to read they were arrested with probable cause. Firebugs are no fun for the neighborhood.

Posted by disgusted, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Sep 9, 2012 at 5:12 pm

Oh, I'm sure mommy and daddy will deny their ltttle darlings did anything wrong and

turn it around to blame the System.