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In my state, parents don't lose custody for testing positive for marijuana. It's considered an issue unless a parent is smoking it in front of his/her children.
Is he purchasing the drug legally or does he live in a State where he can legally buy it. Can he be caught with possessing an illegal substance? That's the angle I would take if I was wanting to interfere with his custody rights.
I don't believe it's possible to be physically addicted to marijuana.
This is going to sound fake but here goes: I did a lot of research on it in college. We had to choose a controversial topic and take the semester to research and present our conclusions. I was a CJ major and was against it bu my research turned my thoughts around.
If it's illegal where you are then that's the end of the story. Illegal activities are an absolute no no when there are children involved.
Hi!
Should a father who is addicted to marijuana be allowed to care for his 20-month old? Please let me know
what you think?
I think he should and I'm sure you have parents all across this country who are raising kids and smoking weed. Not saying if its right or wrong but just that its nothing new, it does happen.
Just like anyone who indulges in marijuana or alcohol, it depends. Is it impacting their ability to care for the child? Provide for the family? Is it a habitual, daily thing or something to do while mowing the lawn or watching the game on a Sunday?
In my state, marijuana is decriminalized under 1oz and medical marijuana is underway. I would rather children be raised by people who smoke pot every once in awhile than alcoholics or people who cannot function without pain pills. Certainly, someone who smokes pot from the moment they get home from work until they fall asleep is not going to be able to properly care for their child. But in moderation? No worse than a few beers.
If its illegal in the state, then smoking around the kid is a no-no.
If it interferes with the daily, reasonable child care activity, it's a no-no.
If the child has health/breathing issues caused by or aggravated by being around burning weed, it's a no-no.
Marijuana addiction is a complicated subject. Most scientists do think that addiction, in the sense of heroin or alcohol addiction, with a need for more and more of the drug as time goes on and heavy symptoms when its withdrawn, doesn't happen with weed. But heavy use and regular dependence does develop, especially among younger people (say, under 25), although it can happen at any age. And yes, people can certainly smoke occasionally for recreational use, with no long-term ill effects.
Nevertheless, IMO no one under the influence should ever be taking care of young kids. It's just too risky. Something could happen and the slowed reflexes and blurred thinking could easily prevent the caretaker from doing what's needed to ensure the child's safety. After all, we don't let schoolteachers come to work high, or licensed day-care workers. And everyplace I've ever seen camp counselors who get high on the job are fired. There's a reason for that.
If this person wants to get high, let him do it on his own time, when he's not looking after a toddler. If he can't manage to NOT get high when he is looking after the kid, I'd say he's got a substance abuse problem that needs to be addressed.
Last edited by citylove101; 08-11-2014 at 01:46 PM..
It depends on your definition of addiction (some define it VERY loosely) and how reliable, dependable and level of functioning while on it.
If the father is very different while on it- eg, forgetting, irrational, confused, etc then no. If he has been smoking everyday for the past decade, goes to work, cooks, cleans, and functions well then maybe he is responsible at his baseline.
A lot of parents take care of their kids while on psychiatric medication. No "one size fits all" answer.
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