A new federally funded study from the University of Tennessee, Ohio State University and San Jose State University on cannabis use and parenting finds that parents typically don’t consume marijuana while their kids are present. Those who used cannabis, however, were also significantly likely to report positive parenting behaviors in the same timeframe that they consumed the drug.
Overall, the findings “reveal a complicated relationship between cannabis use and parenting among a sample of cannabis users,” authors wrote. But the results nevertheless provide “some information on ways parents can engage in harm reduction to support positive parenting.” Though many parents reported having been in the same location as their children when using marijuana, for the most part they avoided using cannabis when their children were physically present.
Notably, parents also had “significantly higher odds of reporting positive parenting behaviors in the same time frame when they report using cannabis.” Positive parenting was defined as “showing a child love, warmth, and care while providing and being sensitive to their needs,” the study says. Authors said there was “no relationship between a parent’s reports of using cannabis and aggressive discipline during the same [ecological momentary assessment] period,” referring to punishments that cause physical pain (such as spanking), withhold affection or involve “calling a child offensive names (e.g., lazy).”
