Five Anne Arundel County students have been charged in the trade of a legal substance: oregano.

Two teens -- a 13-year-old Arundel Middle School student and his 16-year-old Odenton neighbor -- are accused of selling flakes of oregano to unsuspecting classmates who thought they were buying marijuana, Anne Arundel County police said yesterday.

Police said the 16-year-old sold several packages of oregano to the 13-year-old, who then sold it to his friends.

When police searched the older teen's home, 3 ounces of oregano were found in plastic baggies. Both teens were charged with selling counterfeit drugs and received juvenile citations. The 13-year-old has been suspended from school and might be expelled.

Three other middle school students -- two boys from Odenton and a girl from Hanover -- were charged with possessing counterfeit drugs.

They have been suspended and will be forced to participate in the school system's drug education program with their parents.

Police were summoned to the school Tuesday morning after students told a teacher that some classmates had purchased marijuana.