While reading an essay this morning on legalizing marijuana, a 17-year-old Peninsula High School student pulled out a joint and lit it, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department reports.

The student smoked the joint, then swallowed the remnants. He's now in Remann Hall juvenile jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. The Pensinsula School District is also reviewing what happened.

"If people want that law changed, they need to go about it the right way and not flaunt it," Troyer said.

About 150 students and teachers were gathered in the auditorium at Peninsula High School this morning, sharing essays, Troyer said.

One student read his essay arguing for legalizing marijuana, pulled out a joint and started smoking it.

The school resource officer was called. By the time the deputy arrived, the student had finished smoking and swallowed the remnants, Troyer said.

A small amount of marijuana was found in the student's possession. The boy was arrested and taken to Remann Hall juvenile jail. His parents were contacted, Troyer said.

UPDATE: The Peninsula School District has released some information about what happened this morning at Peninsula High School.

Each month, the English department at Peninsula High School has a gathering to celebrate student work in English classes. The gathering is called "Rhetoric Rebels," said Terry Bouck, the district superintendent.

"It's really a vehicle for showcasing students work," Bouck said.

The students present their assignments in class first, then turn them in for grading. A selection of the assignments are chosen for presentation during the monthly gatherings.

The English department has had this tradition for the past 10 years with no problem, Bouck said.

That is until today.

Three 11th grade English classes were gathered together for the monthly "Rhetoric Rebels." The students had written persuasive speeches a couple of weeks ago, Bouck said. The students turned them in without an ending.

The students who were selected to present today had new endings on their speeches.

The 17-year-old boy was among those chosen for today's "Rhetoric Rebels." He gave his persuasive speech on the legalization of marijuana.

"At the end of his speech, he pulled out a marijuana joint, lit it and began to smoke it," Bouck said.

Officials brought the student to the office, "where appropriate action was taken," Bouck said.

He declined to be more specific about the discipline the student faces.

"We really support freedom of speech but when someone does something illegal in our schools, we take swift action," the superintendent said. "We encourage diverse opinions but we also have a no tolerance for any type of drugs or alcohol in our schools and will take immediate action."