MOTHER WHO SMOKED POT DURING LABOR REGAINS CUSTODY OF KIDS

State District Judge Kent Ellis on Thursday approved a Children's
Protective Services plan to return two young children to their mother,
who temporarily had lost custody of them after smoking marijuana to
ease labor pains.

The plan calls for returning newborn Sylvan Asher and his 15-month-old
brother, Bishop, to their parents after the father, Aaron Asher, 23,
submits to another drug test and the mother, Angela Jenkins, 24,
completes counseling and a 10-week parenting class.

The children were removed from the couple's custody in late September
after Jenkins smoked marijuana to ease labor pains. She and the
newborn later tested positive for marijuana exposure, triggering an
investigation that raised concerns about the couple's lodging,
employment and drug use.

Sylvan has been placed in a foster home, Bishop with Asher's
mother.

Ellis admonished the couple not to regard smoking marijuana lightly,
noting the drug is illegal and its continued use could result in
permanent loss of custody of the children.

He ordered the couple to return to his court in March.