Legal Question in Family Law in California

I'm. In a child custody case I failed a drug test though I have a marrijuana card the judge wouldn't honor it so orders remain the same til I come back and pass the drug test when I pass it will I have to test for the next 18yrs


Asked on 6/30/11, 7:16 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Arlene Kock Law Offices of Arlene D. Kock APLC

I am not sure what your question is. Note that even with a marijuana medical card, the judge has the power to look at the totality of the case and decide to restrict visitation and custody.

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Answered on 6/30/11, 7:44 am
Rhonda Ellifritz Law Offices of Rhonda Ellifritz

Ms. Kock is correct. The Judge can also restrict alcohol use when the child is with you, which is legal to imbibe without a prescription. The problem is that you can't just do a simple urine test for marijuana like you can alcohol. TCH is stored in the fat cells and you can test positive long after you have stopped. So, if you are stopping for the weekend only when you have the child, you are still going to test positive. That presents a problem of not being able to show exactly when the drug was used, or proving your sobriety during period of having custody of the child.

Hopefully your doctor can prescribe other medicinal relief that removes quickly from the system. For example, I very often put in orders that no party is to drink alcohol 24 hours before exercising custody. That allows the parent time to get the alcohol out of their system and avoids a positive test. If you can find something that would work with that type of time frame, for example, you may consider using the alternative and possibly avoid repeated testing.

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Answered on 6/30/11, 10:48 am


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