Teen Parents Allow 2-Year-Old Son To Smoke Pot

What is it that drives some people to experiment on defenseless people or animals? How about their own children? An abundant curiosity paired with immense carelessness? In Mayville, New York, two teen...
Teen Parents Allow 2-Year-Old Son To Smoke Pot
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  • What is it that drives some people to experiment on defenseless people or animals? How about their own children? An abundant curiosity paired with immense carelessness?

    In Mayville, New York, two teenage parents and a grandfather decided it was worth it to force their nearly 2-year-old to smoke marijuana, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office reported on Friday.

    The toddler’s father, George Kelsey, 18; the mother, Jessica Kelsey, 17; and Jessica’s father, Don Baker, 54, all of Mayfield, were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said. All three were arrested on warrants, and sent to the Town of Chautauqua Court, NBC station WGRZ of Buffalo reported.

    The trio is being held in lieu of an estimated $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.

    Allegedly, on the evening of December 5, the incident occurred in the family’s apartment where three adults “helped, observed or encouraged” the 23-month-old to smoke marijuana from a lighted bowl, The Buffalo News reported. Investigators say there was a party going on at the apartment, and marijuana was being smoked – the Kelseys and Baker were all present when the tot was smoking pot.

    Under Sheriff Charles Holder said, “They packed the marijuana pipe, lit it for the baby and gave it to him and encouraged him to inhale…it’s just unbelievable.”

    WIVB News 4, learned that the incident may or may not have been videotaped – the sheriff’s office would neither deny or confirm that.

    “You have a 23-month-old child who’s completely helpless, can’t really say yes or no, wants to please their parents and grandparent, and this is what you do? There should be some serious consequences,” said Jodie Altman, Executive Director of Renaissance House, which leads the Kids Escaping Drugs program that helps educate children in schools about the dangers of drugs.

    “You know, you need a license for everything. But you don’t need a license to be a parent.”

    Authorities said that the toddler and another sibling are in the care of Child Protective Services.

    (Pictures via WikiCommons, (1), (2), (3))

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