The other day I read an article on my CNN app and meant to blog about it. It is a case that has been coming up across our nations more often regarding medical marijuana and parenting. Recently a couple in Napa, CA had their child taken away by Child Protective Services because police were called to their home by a neighbor who heard them arguing. Upon entering the house, the police state their house smelled strongly of marijuana and there were marijuana cigarettes laying on a table that would be within easy reach to their 11 month old son that has now been removed from their home. What is disturbing to me about this is that in the state of CA plus 19 other states, provide medical marijuana cards by healthcare providers, yet the families and the children still have to go through something like this. I think the stigma does still exist that although marijuana may be acceptable to certain practitioners to treat conditions, people will look at a couple like this and assume they are bad parents. I think if children are at stake of being removed from their homes because of this, doctors should first ask and not grant the licenses because in the long run this will cause greater harm and trauma to the child, then the parents will really need to constantly smoke in order to cope with the ordeal. I do not agree that every parent that smokes marijuana is a bad parent and yes, there is still studies to be done to see if there is impairment of caring for your child while high, but in the mean time, no amount of marijuana or any feel good substance is worth the risk of losing your child.
Story retrieved from:http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/12/health/medical-marijuana-parents/index.html?iref=allsearch
Medicinal marijuana if used for a real ailment and safeguarded is a good thing. Unfortunatly, some people are using the fact that marijuana is available for medical reasons as a catch all-I can just use marijuana whenever I want and in whatever quantities I want. My uncle lives in Massachusetts and has used marijuana for years to treat his agent orange from Vietnam. What I've learned first hand from him is: he is only allowed to have enough marijuana on him or in the house just for him, he doesn't sell it, he doesn't hoard a big amount, and when he smokes it he stays in one room in the house away from everyone to keep them safe. He also uses in the same location everytime so as not to go out and do something he would regret while under the influence. As sad as it was that these parents child was taken away due to their house smelling of marijuana, I believe the parents could have put more thought and safeguards into their medicinal use of marijuana.
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