Mother Seen in YouTube Video Letting Her Toddler Take a Bong Hit Says It Was a Joke 'That Wasn't Really Funny'
Police arrested a young mother from Centralia, Washington, last week after footage surfaced on YouTube showing her allowing her 22-month-old son to inhale marijuana smoke from a bong.
24-year-old Rachelle Braaten was charged with delivery of a controlled substance to a minor as well as manufacture of marijuana after officers found as many as 40 marijuana plants inside her home. Several weapons were also found.
Asked about the incident, Braaten confessed to letting the boy smoke pot during a recent gathering of friends. "I guess it was a joke and stupid mistake that wasn't really funny," she told detectives.
Braaten went on to say that she felt "horrible" about what she did, because the child is two, and "he shouldn't have that in his body."
The unnamed toddler was placed in the care of child protective services along with Braaten's other child, a 5-year-old.
Braaten's fiance and the boy's father, Tyler Lee, was later arrested as well on charges of marijuana distribution and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Lee, who claims he was not present during the bong-smoking incident, was released after a brief stay in jail, but Braaten remains behind bars in lieu of $5,000 bail.