Daycare Owners Say They Smoke Medical Marijuana With Kids In The House

[Wubby]

I can't even imagine this could be legal. This is on our local news.
A center were the providers are smoking marijuana, medical or not. I would not want my child there.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Daycare-workers-say-they-smoke-medical-marijuana-while-caring-for-kids-265059501.html?app_data=%7B%22pi%22%3A%2253b032b1df0a5cf55c000004%22%2C%22pt%22%3A%22wall%22%7D

[Michelle]

wow!
I can't imagine how she got away with it as long as she did
there is no way she would have to smoke drugs during daycare hours...
if she is in that much pain then she should just go on disability

[Heidi]

hmmmm...

Ok, ONE person in the house needing medical marjiuana, I can buy. It would have to be treated just like any other medication. But, isn't it a bit odd that SEVERAL of the adults in charge need it?

[Wubby]

I think it is a center. I watched the news video also. The "tent" they use for smoking is feet away from the kids. I am amazed by this article.

[midaycare]

Uugh. I don't like the legalization of marijuana. Sorry if I offend anyone. I just don't ever want my son doing it. Studies have shown that adolescents who start smoking pot have brain alterations, and not for the better.

[Unregistered]

If she needs medical marijuana just to be able to walk during the day then she is not capablevto care for children.Just my opinio!

[Angelsj]

Uugh. I don't like the legalization of marijuana. Sorry if I offend anyone. I just don't ever want my son doing it. Studies have shown that adolescents who start smoking pot have brain alterations, and not for the better.

Sorry, but your logic fails here. Alcohol is legal and has many devastating effects on a growing brain. Marijuana regulated legally just like alcohol would likely be no more or less available to your son than it is right now.
The medical benefits of marijuana have been show over and over again, but it also has the SAFEST record of any recreational drug out there, much safer than alcohol.
Your son is highly unlikely to begin smoking pot because it is legal. It is readily available (particularly to teens.) If you don't want him to smoke it, you need to talk to him about that and why.
As to the OP, I find it highly suspect that multiple people there "need" medical marijuana. And I cannot imagine the state or parents being ok with it.

[Blackcat31]

Sorry, but your logic fails here. Alcohol is legal and has many devastating effects on a growing brain. Marijuana regulated legally just like alcohol would likely be no more or less available to your son than it is right now.
The medical benefits of marijuana have been show over and over again, but it also has the SAFEST record of any recreational drug out there, much safer than alcohol.
Your son is highly unlikely to begin smoking pot because it is legal. It is readily available (particularly to teens.) If you don't want him to smoke it, you need to talk to him about that and why.
As to the OP, I find it highly suspect that multiple people there "need" medical marijuana. And I cannot imagine the state or parents being ok with it.

I agree... whether something is legal or not usually has NO bearing on what teens choose to do or not do.

I also think there is something more to this story...I feel like we are only hearing the parts that are sensationalized...I don't know...something is odd/weird/off.

[SunshineMama]

I am an advocate of medical marijuana, however I don't think it is okay to be on any type of pain medication, other than tylenol, while taking care of children. If you are in that much pain, you need to either take the day off or find another career if it's persistent pain.

People who abuse medical marijuana give it a bad rep, just like people who abuse alcohol or pain medication.

[mountainside13]

I am also an advocate of medical marijuana, not recreational. It does have a lot of benefits to those who really NEED it! When my grandmother died of terminal cancer (7 years ago) she could have really benefitted from it. The pain pills wouldn't touch the pain and her last few days were spent in agony.

To me, these providers shouldn't be using while caring for children. They need to wait until after hours or a different profession IMO.


I do find it very odd that this center has multiple providers with a card, seems fishy.

[AmyKidsCo]

IMO it should be treated like any other controlled substance - alcohol, narcotics, etc.

I had surgery last summer and was prescribed Vicodin for pain relief. I ended up not needing it except the first 2 nights when I went to bed, but I did email my licensor beforehand. She didn't know so she had to take it "up the ladder" and they said:

Rule 250.05(3)(h), in pertinent part, no provider shall be under the influence of a non-prescribed controlled substance, during the hours of the center's operation. She would not be in violation of that rule if she is taking prescription medication.

However, any medication, especially narcotics, with a warning label regarding drowsiness, mind altering, etc, (DCF 250.07(6)2.a. behavior raises reasonable concern for the safety of children) will want to be taken with extreme caution. In the event that by omission or commission (DCF 250.04((2)(j) that something would happen to a child in care while the provider is under the influence of narcotic medication would be a concern for licensing and would be closely reviewed.

The bottom line is that a provider needs to exercise sound judgment. Being under the influence of narcotic pain medication may not be a means of displaying good judgment when caring for up to 8 children.

[Lyss]

Yeah... this is in my area So I've been hearing about it on the news and from other providers. It is an in home.

I think it's ridiculous all around honestly. I don't care about the medical/recreation debate, but regulations say no one can be "in the house" while under the influence of a controlled substance, yet the state gave the license holder (aka the owner) a license with a provision allowing her to smoke on the property when kids are present? My biggest issues is that they have multiple cards in that house, so people that are supposedly there to be the alternate primary caregiver also can be out smoking. You'd think that the state wouldn't allow the alternate to also have a card...

To each their own in their off time but my kid would not be going back (honestly wouldn't be there in the first place).

[TwinKristi]

Where I live just about everyone and their mom has a card (we don't... Not saying that!) but I know a ton of people who do. I don't think it's really THAT big of a deal personally. I wish they would legalize it here and just get it over with. It needs to be regulated like alcohol and pain meds. I have taken half of a prescribed pain pill for a migraine during business hours but I wasn't impaired or incapable of caring for kids. If their license says it's ok, I don't understand why they're shutting them down... And really, what parent doesn't know this when bringing their child there? The medical card has to posted like a license does.

[Mom of 4]

That's crazy! Marajuana is legal in my state, but you don't go to WORKING WITH KIDS (or patients) like that! Wow! Even at my job now, I could get FIRED for going in under the influence. That includes alcohol.

[midaycare]

Sorry, but your logic fails here. Alcohol is legal and has many devastating effects on a growing brain. Marijuana regulated legally just like alcohol would likely be no more or less available to your son than it is right now.
The medical benefits of marijuana have been show over and over again, but it also has the SAFEST record of any recreational drug out there, much safer than alcohol.
Your son is highly unlikely to begin smoking pot because it is legal. It is readily available (particularly to teens.) If you don't want him to smoke it, you need to talk to him about that and why.
As to the OP, I find it highly suspect that multiple people there "need" medical marijuana. And I cannot imagine the state or parents being ok with it.

I didn't say anything about alcohol ... I didn't state my feelings on alcohol at all. I really don't think you can compare pot and alcohol. I'm not sure why people do.

Marijuana use is not safe for adolescents. It has been proven. I don't deny the benefit of medical marijuana.

And of course I will talk to my son. I use to teach middle schoolers to say no to drugs from a local program here. I did an abstinence program, too. I'm pretty comfortable talking about drugs, sex, stds, you name it.