Medical Marijuana Parent Not Disqualified for Custody

Like with the use of any other prescription medications, a parent who uses medical marijuana is not disqualified from custody in a family court according to the Michigan Attorney General.  If the pot-medicating  parent, however, exhibits behavior that is unreasonably dangerous to a minor child, the immunity provided by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act [MMMA] may not be available.

Attorney General Bill Schuette was asked for an advisory opinion by State Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) on the issue of whether the MMMA can be invoked by a parent who is the subject of a child protective proceeding, and what constitutes behavior creating an unreasonable danger for a minor child.

In a well-crafted 17-page opinion, the AG zeroed-in on the specific provision of the Act dealing with pot and  children, and noting the exception to that provision.  Section 4(c) of the MMA states:

A person shall not be denied custody or visitation of a minor for acting in accordance with this Act, unless the person's behavior is such that it creates an unreasonable danger to the minor that can be clearly articulated and substantiated.

As for what type of pot-related behavior constitutes the creation of such an unreasonable danger, the Act does not say.  According to the Attorney General, an individual assessment would need to take the specific circumstances of the parent and child into account.  Certainly, things like substance abuse and addiction are legitimate inquiries relative to a juvenile protective or custody proceeding.  The MMA will not provide immunity in a family court from taking such things into account.

AG Schuette opined, "the medical use of marihuana alone does not create an unreasonable danger to a child."   Schuette cautioned in the opinion, however, that if a parent's use of marijuana negatively impacts that parent's ability to properly care for a child, it could be part of the overall custody assessment.

Germane to a custody investigation is whether the parent, while high, is sufficiently functional and thus capable of parenting a minor; the child's age is an important factor; whether, once high, the parent can drive the child to safety if an emergency arises; and does the child have asthma that could be affected by second-hand marijuana smoke.

These are a few of the concerns we conjured up over here at the electronic divorce lawyer.  The best course of action, we think, is not to get high, or  take other mood altering substances, around your children.

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