What To Do When Your Medical Marijuana Use Spurs False Accusations
Cannabis has been proven to relieve pain and help patients manage symptoms related to anxiety, addiction, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Following these medical breakthroughs, many states have legalized cannabis for medical use.
If you are a medical marijuana patient in Florida, your medical treatment should not impact your parenting plan. But a vindictive or ignorant former partner can take your medical marijuana use out of context and attempt to use it to reduce or even eliminate your parenting time with your children. If you find yourself facing this type of accusation, prepare yourself to fight the allegation in court with an experienced family lawyer.
Balancing your Medical Marijuana Use and your Role as a Parent
It can be difficult to be a medical marijuana patient and a parent, especially if you face scrutiny from your former spouse about your medical cannabis use. A few tips that can make it easier to balance your role as a parent with your medical cannabis use include:
- Keeping your marijuana out of your children’s reach. Edible items should never be in a refrigerator or pantry where your child can mistake them for treats, and items like vaporizers, dried cannabis flower, and vaporizers should never be available to your child; and
- Keep your medical marijuana use private. Posting about it on social media can lead to it being taken out of context and used to paint you as a drug addict. Remember, society’s perception of marijuana use is changing slowly. Many courts are biased against cannabis use, and keeping your cannabis use private now can help you avoid challenges related to it later.
Show that you are a Capable Parent
Using medical marijuana does not make you an unfit parent. However, using marijuana while your children are present, prioritizing your marijuana use over them, and driving while under the influence of marijuana are all behaviors that can put your children’s health and safety at risk. If your former partner accuses you of acting in a way that endangers your children, you need to be prepared to show the court the truth.
Have evidence ready to show the court that you are a fit, capable parent. Evidence you can use to support this position includes:
- Documentation of your medical marijuana program registration. By showing the court that you are a patient who uses cannabis to relieve your symptoms, rather than somebody who simply enjoys getting high, you can combat allegations of illegal drug use;
- Testimonies from your children’s teachers and other adults in their lives discussing your role as an involved parent; and
- Documentation showing that you use medical marijuana responsibly. This can include photographs of how you store your marijuana and showing the court your clean driving and criminal records.
Work with an Experienced Tampa Family Lawyer
When you need an advocate, you need to work with an experienced Tampa family lawyer. To get started with a member of our team, contact Bubley & Bubley, P.A. today to set up your initial consultation in our office. We can answer any questions you have and start developing your legal strategy with you.
Resource:
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320984.php
