- In 2019, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued a warning advising against the use of cannabis during pregnancy
- The use of cannabis among pregnant US women increased by 106% between 2002 and 2017.
- Researchers have found evidence of cannabis use during pregnancy causing psychotic-like behaviors in children
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 147 million people across the world use cannabis.
Compared to other substances of abuse, cannabis use has increased much more rapidly.Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States (US) as reported by the CDC.
Moreover, there has been a huge increase in the use of cannabis among pregnant women in the US.
Recent increases in access to marijuana and in its potency, along with misperceptions of the safety of marijuana endanger our most precious resource, our nation’s youth
US Surgeon General Jerome Adams
Cannabis – The Evil Weed
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a drug most commonly used for recreation and medicine. The main component of the drug is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which acts on the receptors in our brain and causes the release of dopamine.
While cannabis is widely known for causing a state of euphoria in its users, it has far more detrimental effects on the consumer’s health.
Prolonged use or, high doses of the substance are associated with decreased mental ability, seizures, hallucinations, and anxiety to name a few.
THC poses the greatest risk to pregnant women as it can cross the placenta and, impact fetal brain development. Furthermore, THC has been found in breast milk for up to five days after the last use.
Multiple studies have found that prenatal exposure to marijuana can result in reduced birth weight, low cognition, hyperactivity, and behavioral issues in children.
Moreover, the use of weed during pregnancy has also been linked to the development of autism in the child.
The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry investigated whether prenatal exposure to cannabis is associated with a greater risk of psychopathology in children.
The researchers analyzed data of 11,875 children aged 9 to 11 years, all part of the ABCD study. They were analyzed for symptoms of psychopathology, sleep, cognition, brain changes, birth weight, and premature birth.
655 of these children were reported by their mothers or caregivers to have been exposed to cannabis in utero.
The results showed that compared to children with no exposure, children with prenatal exposure were more likely to have psychopathology symptoms, sleep problems, and, decreased cognitive abilities.
Prenatal exposure after maternal knowledge of pregnancy was associated with greater negative effects in childhood.
Most women reported marijuana use during the first three months of pregnancy, that is, the first trimester. This is the phase of pregnancy when the developing fetal brain is most sensitive to damage
In conclusion, doctors advise women contemplating pregnancy and pregnant women should avoid the use of cannabis to avoid placing their offspring at an increased risk for psychotic-like behaviors.
Reference:
Paul SE, Hatoum AS, Fine JD, et al. Associations Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Childhood Outcomes: Results From the ABCD Study. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online September 23, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.2902
Hasin, D. US Epidemiology of Cannabis Use and Associated Problems. Neuropsychopharmacol. 43, 195–212 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.198
