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Trayvon Martin school suspension linked to pot

Trayvon Martin was suspended from school last month for having a baggie that contained marijuana residue in his book bag, a family spokesman said Monday.
/ Source: msnbc.com news services

Trayvon Martin was suspended from school last month for having a baggie that contained marijuana residue in his book bag, a family spokesman said Monday, but his parents believe the suspension had nothing to do with his killing Feb. 26 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

The residue was found in a plastic bag inside Martin's book bag, Ryan Julison said.

"There was no substance found. There was a baggie that school officials believe may have formerly contained marijuana. There was no arrest or citation from the police," Julison said.

Toxicology test results were still pending on the body of Martin, 17, who was gunned down inside a gated community in the central Florida city of Sanford.

Zimmerman has not been charged and claims self-defense.

Martin was visiting his father in Sanford while he was suspended by Miami-Dade schools. He was unarmed.

His killing has ignited racial tensions. Martin was black; Zimmerman's father is white and his mother Hispanic.

Also Monday, state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed that Martin does not have a juvenile offender record. The information came after a public records request by The Associated Press.