SPECIAL ANCHOR MARIA SHRIVER, IS HERE WITH THIS.
>> WOW. NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ACROSS CITIES AND SUBURBS, MORE AND
MORE PARENTS ARE USING MARIJUANA.
ITS USE AMONG ADULTS IS UP NEARLY 50%.
WE VISITED WITH ONE GROUP OF MOMS WHO SMOKE POT EVERY DAY.
EVEN AT PLAY DATES WITH THEIR KIDS.
AND THEY CLAIM IT MAKES THEM BETTER PARENTS.
FOR CASEY AND HER FRIENDS, PLAY DATES MEAN FUN.
FOOD AND FOR THE MOMS, SOME HERBAL REFRESHMENT.
>> MOMMY NEEDS A JOINT J JUST A MUCH AS MOMMY NEEDS A GLASS OF
WINE. YOU CAN BE A GOOD PARENT AND USE
MARIJUANA AT THE SAME TIME. >> Reporter: TODAY, MIDDLE-AGED
PARENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE POT THAN THEIR TEENAGE KIDS.
FOR THESE MOMS, IT'S A PANACEA. TAKING IT TO TREAT THEIR ACHES,
PAINS AND DEPRESSION. AND THEY SAY, AS AN EASY WAY TO
RELAX AND BOOST THE PRODUCTIVITY.
HERE IN CALIFORNIA, RECREATIONAL POT USE IS LEGAL.
>> I CAN SMOKE IT AND GO CLEAN MY WHOLE HOUSE AND DO ALL MY
LAUNDRY AND JUST GET EVERYTHING DONE.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTUALLY MORE ATTENTIVE AND FOCUSED, WHILE I
AM MEDICATED. IT GIVES ME THE SPRUCE OF ENERGY
I DON'T HAVE. >> Reporter: CASEY, WHO SUFFERS
FROM MIGRAINES, SAYS PRESCRIPTION PILLS LEFT HER
FEELING FOGGY AND DISCONNECTED FROM HER KIDS.
SO, SHE TRIED MARIJUANA, HAVING NEVER USED IT BEFORE.
NOW, SHE GROWS IT ON HER PATIO. SAYING IT'S MADE HER PAIN-FREE
AND A MUCH BETTER PARENT. SHE'S EVEN STARTED A BLOG CALLED
THE CANNABIS MOM. >> I HEARD FROM HUNDREDS OF MOMS
WHO USE MARIJUANA. THEY'RE HAPPY I'M PUTTING IT OUT
THERE. THERE'S SO MANY MOMS THAT ARE
STILL HIDING BECAUSE THEY'RE ASHAMED AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE
SHAMED. BUT SOME HEALTH EXPERTS WARN
THAT PARENTING ON MARIJUANA, IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
>> COORDINATION MAY BE UMPIRED. >> Reporter: MOMS SAY, THIS
CALMS ME DOWN. THIS IS BENEFICIAL.
THIS MAKES ME A BETTER MOM. ARE THEY JUST TRYING TO CONVINCE
THEMSELVES OF SOME STORYLINE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SMOKE POT?
>> SMOKING IS INHERENTLY UNHEALTHY.
AND BY SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SMOKING SOMETHING TO TAKE
THE EDGE OFF OR TO COPE WITH PAIN, THAT SENDS A MESSAGE TO
OUR CHILDREN. >> Reporter: CASEY SAYS HER MOMS
ALL PRACTICE MODERATION. AND USE DESIGNATED DRIVERS WHEN
SMOKING. HER KIDS KNOW TO NEVER TOUCH
MOMMY'S MEDICINE. AND SHE ALWAYS STORES IT OUT OF
REACH. BUT BEING A POT USER COMES WITH
SOME BACKLASH, LIKE WHEN THE MOM OF ONE OF HER DAUGHTER'S FRIENDS
FOUND HER BLOG AND BANNED HER CHILD FROM CASEY'S HOME.
>> SEEING THAT I WAS A CANNABIS MOM.
AND SAVANNAH'S MOM IS A POTHEAD AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO HANG OUT
WITH HER ANYMORE. >> Reporter: HER GOAL IS TO
REMOVE THE STIGMA. >> I THINK PEOPLE THINK THAT
MARIJUANA LAKES YOU LAZY, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SIT ON THE COUCH
AND LET LIFE PASS YOU BY. AND IT DOESN'T.
I'M PLAYING WITH MY KIDS. WE'RE THAT NORMAL FAMILY.
>> HEALTH EXPERTS SAY ABOUT ONE IN TEN PEOPLE WHO USE MARIJUANA
BECOME ADDICTED TO IT. UNLIKE ALCOHOL AND THE QUALITY
OF STRENGTH IS ALSO POT IS UNREGULATED.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER.
AND IN EIGHT STATES, IT'S STILL BANNED.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.
>> DID YOUR OPINION CHANGE AFTER MEETING THE MOMS?
>> LIVING IN CALIFORNIA YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THIS.
MY ERA, WHEN KIDS WERE YOUNG, WOMEN WERE MAINLY DRINKING
ALCOHOL. THERE WAS SOME VICODIN, TO TAKE
THE EDGE OFF. THIS IS NEW.
I'M NOT IN THIS MOMMY AND ME GROUP.
BUT I WAS VERY FASCINATED THAT ALL THE PARENTS HERE WERE PAYING
CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE PIECE. MOMS AND DADS.
>> THE