Over the past decade, Americans have reevaluated their relationship with marijuana. No longer is pot painted as the shadowy "gateway drug" of the 80s and 90s – it's finding popular support across the country. Two states, Colorado and Washington, have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and many more have decriminalized possession or allowed for medical use. But while laws are changing, social norms are still very much up for debate.

A discussion on Reddit's parenting section last month exposed some of the new ambiguities around using marijuana at home, even when it's legal. A Redditor from Washington state turned to the "pot smoking parents in this community" to ask what's acceptable:

It's been a topic of discussion here in Washington and [opinions are] split pretty evenly down the middle. ... Anyone smoke weed and think it makes them a better parent? Same parent? Anyone think you absolutely cannot touch any substance and be a good parent?

The overwhelming response on Reddit was pro-pot (some argued there was "less harm in it than drinking" while others felt they were better, more relaxed parents "after a few tokes"), but others have been more skeptical.

Daily Beast columnist Jason Good writes that smoking weed around kids is potentially dangerous, as parents risk becoming unreliable and irresponsible. "What happens when one of their kids asks for a sandwich and they hand him two oven mitts smeared with mayonnaise?," Good quips. "The potential problem here is consistency. Kids thrive on it, and that's why they watch the same episode of Dora over and over again: they like knowing what's going to happen," he says. Just this week, a recent study found that casual marijuana use can have permanent effects on the brain

As the discussion about parenting and marijuana continues, we want to hear from you.

Tell us:

Do you smoke pot around your kids? Do you keep marijuana in the house? Have you changed the way you talk to your kids about marijuana as a result of evolving legislation? Did you grow up around parents who smoked weed? How did it affect you?

Share your thoughts below, and we'll publish selected responses on the Guardian ... on 4/20.

Loading...

















