Expert: Peter L. - 8/18/2011

Question
My step-daughter is 22 months old and her father and I have been concerned for quite some time as we have picked her up and her home smells like marijuana and her mother appears extremely high.  When we pick her up, she is really calm and doesn't say much, isn't very active, but about three hours later, she is spunky and active again.  We believe that with her mom using marijuana, that she is using around the child and it is affecting her as well.  She isn't speaking very much word wise at this age as she only knows 8 words or so.  Our question is, is there anyway to prove that the child has indeed encountered second hand marijuana smoke?  Is her behavior indicative of second-hand marijuana smoke?  Will a hair folicle drug test reveal any encounter of marijuana?

Answer
Hi Bobbi,

There's a lot of speculation about second-hand marijuana smoke, and if it is a significant factor at all.  Even when there are groups of marijuana smokers in close up cars, there will usually not be enough smoke inhaled to show up positive on a urine screen.

Now I can't say definitively that your step-daughter is not being affected by it; I'm not an expert on this.  However, I don't know of any behavior changes that might manifest from second-hand smoke.

The other issue is her mother's marijuana use, particularly around her child.  I think this is a matter of concern, as the child is not getting the benefit of the best parenting she could get around a stoned mother.  I think this is an issue for future observation and action.

Many of my clients were raised by active substance users.  Just being around those environments as toddlers or young children is considered by them to be a factor that may have contributed to their own use.  

Sorry for the late response to your question.

Regards,
Peter