Mother convicted after baby eats cannabis joint

A 23-month-old baby was taken to hospital a day after eating a cannabis joint belonging to her mother. File photo / Thinkstock

A 23-month-old baby was taken to hospital a day after eating a cannabis joint belonging to her mother, Gisborne District Court has been told.

Winitana Terangiataahua, 22, was convicted of cruelty to a child and was sentenced to six months home detention.

Terangiataahua was neglectful to her child by withholding medical treatment, Judge Tony Adeane said.

She was addicted to drugs and left her cannabis "smoke" where her baby found and ate it, he said.

Medical care was not sought until the following day, when the child showed some ill-effects.

The little girl required hospital treatment.

Terangiataahua had committed an offence typical of those parents unable to look after their children, Judge Adeane said.

The time had come where the community had had enough.

If Terangiataahua neglected her child again she would be jailed, the judge said.

- NZPA