**Stoned Philosopher’s Thoughts**
“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” Dalai Lama XIV
When I was a child, my siblings and I would run all over our neighborhood. My mother gave us pretty much free range; if we told her where we were going and when we would be back, it was alright. If a child today were to head off into the woods or play in a ravine a mile away like I did, the parents may be accused of neglecting their children.
Case in point is Florida where an 11 year old returned home before his parents and was playing in his yard for 90 minutes until they arrived. The parents were charged with felony neglect; I believe this is a growing problem.
In a similar story about a cat saving a boy from a dog attack, readers commented that the child should not have been left alone. However, if you watch the video, the mother comes running in seconds. I believe this pattern of accusation is a little excessive.
Enter marijuana. Recently, a Kansas woman lost custody of her son because she treated her Crohn’s disease with cannabis oil. The issue came to light when her son spoke up at school about the benefits of marijuana, which he saw firsthand in his mother’s case. (I have also seen this in my own family’s battle with Crohn’s.) I do not believe using marijuana either medically of recreationally makes you a bad parent, period.
As with any situation, some bad parents may also use marijuana. However I don’t believe this is the norm. Studies have shown that marijuana use is linked to lower cases of domestic violence and abuse. In addition, many other studies glimpse into why this is the case.
Even faced with mounting evidence, government and other authorities insist that marijuana leads to bad parenting. Leaders spread conflicting facts and ideas about the dangers of marijuana. I can think of many other things more harmful to children than parents treating debilitating issues with marijuana. It is time to stop treating marijuana users as bad parents and see them as individuals who may be loving, caring people.
As always, abide.
-Stoned Philosopher
Photo: Jurassic Blueberries
Toke Tank 