POT USED TO 'CONTROL' GIRL'S HYPERACTIVITY

Judge Calls It 'Extreme' Abuse, Sentences Mother To Nine Months Of
House Arrest

A Sarnia woman who used marijuana to control her eight-year-old
daughter's hyperactivity was placed under house arrest for nine months
Monday.

The 34-year-old mother pleaded guilty in Sarnia court to marijuana
trafficking because she gave the marijuana to her child.

Outside the courtroom federal prosecutor Michael Robb said the child
was given marijuana several times a week, but there was no indication
how long it had been done.

Tests showed residual evidence of marijuana in the child's system.

The Children's Aid Society was notified of the problem after the girl
told a teacher she was taking marijuana. The mother was charged in
fall of 2006.

Justice Mark Hornblower called it "extreme" abuse and said the mother
did not appear to fully understand how wrong it was.

The court heard the mother had been suffering from depression.

Defence lawyer David Stoesser told the court the mother was responding
to treatment. But Robb said the follow-up to initial treatment has
been a problem.

The woman had no prior criminal record and Hornblower said sufficient
resources to help the woman could not be provided if she was in a jail
setting.

During house arrest the woman must undergo counselling and is
prohibited from using drugs or alcohol, and she cannot allow anyone
with drugs into her house.

Also, she can be instructed to undergo drug testing and police can
enter her home at any time to ensure she is complying with the conditions.

Following the house arrest she will be on probation for two years,
during which she must continue counselling.

Contact with her daughter must be approved by authorities or in
accordance with a family court order.

There can be no reuniting with her daughter unless she takes the
needed steps, Hornblower said.

The woman's name has not been published to protect the child.