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Legal perception can affect child custody cases

On Behalf of | Jun 19, 2014 | Child Custody |

Marijuana has been legal in Colorado for over a year now, and the herb has been gaining more and more widespread acceptance ever since. Whether its uses are medicinal or recreational, it’s becoming less of a criminal offense across the country to possess or smoke marijuana. However, while the political atmosphere may be changing, the legal atmosphere is trailing behind. In states where marijuana is viewed less critically, there have been many instances of child custody scares due to the drug.

When dealing with child custody, courts seek to do what’s best for the children, and to some who still believe that pot is harmful to have around children, this can cause serious problems. One example from Michigan involves a couple whose child was taken from them when an ex-husband reported that they were growing marijuana. Their pot plants were medicinal and legal, but the couple still had to go to court to get their child back.

Even if marijuana is never legalized in Texas, the concept behind these custody issues is something that anybody could face. In an effort to do what’s best for the child, courts must make the best decision they can with the facts they are presented. If, for example, a mother claims that her ex-husband was never actively involved in the child’s upbringing, it could hurt the father’s chances of getting a fair custody agreement, even if he was unable to be involved because he was working long hours to provide for his child’s well-being.

The most important thing to take away from these issues of child custody is that parents seeking custody can never be too cautious about how they portray their relationship with their child. It’s important for parents to prove that they, just like the courts, only want what’s best for their child.

Source: Burleson Star National News, “Changing pot laws prompt child-endangerment review,” Kristen Wyatt, June 15, 2014

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