Illegal candy selling is becoming a major problem here at Venice, according to school officials. Students are allowed to sell snacks like Famous Amos, Gushers and Rice Krispy Treats to raise money for a club or team. However, some students are selling items for their own profit.

In addition, the school has rules about not selling junk food. Only fairly healthy snacks are allowed to be sold during school hours.

Some new students and ninth graders do not know the rules of selling products, said Principal Jan Davis. Only approved sales by school groups are allowed on campus during school hours. So far, the consequences for being caught selling are: warnings, confiscation of the product until the end of the day, detention and suspension. At least a couple of students have been suspended for the violation recently, said new Dean Loren Drake. He is also concerned about safety.

"It’s wrong [to sell] because kids don’t know what they’re getting, they don’t know if the product has been tampered with, even if it comes in a packet," said Mr. Drake. Students have taken things out of the original packaging and put them in plastic sandwich bags to sell.

"Students don’t know what was originally in the box, things could be put in, for example, the sellers could have injected some kind of drug," he added.

Though he admits that this is not likely, not a lot is being done to stop the illegal sales, and according to Principal Davis, this situation has gotten a little bit out of hand.

"This situation is hard because its hard to monitor each student selling products," said Principal Davis. "We need to publish the fact that students can’t sell candy."

"It’s really hard to catch people because there are a lot of sales going on at school," said Mr. Drake. "It makes it hard to know, whether the sudent is fundraising the product for a club, or just selling the product and keeping the profit for themselves."

One of many candy sellers who claims he is "never gonna get caught" is Gerardo Cervantes, whose reason for selling candy is that he needs money for gas. "I have a job, but it does not give me enough money for gas, I make weak money," said Cervantes. In one week, selling Hot Cheetos chips and Famous Amos cookies, Cervantes makes a $50 profit. "Look for me if you want Hot Cheetos, or cookies," he jokes.

Many people at Venice might admit they have sometimes said yes to buying candy on campus, even though they know it’s illegal. Since all the junk food was banned from LAUSD schools two years ago, liquor stores and students have been the only connection the Venice High community has to getting junk food.