The Role of Marijuana During Pregnancy

Marijuana. Cannabis. Weed. Pot. Whatever name you refer to it by (there are dozens more), legalized marijuana is a very prominent topic in our nation.

Currently there are four states where you can legally buy weed if you’re 21, with California joining the mix in 2018. You can legally possess and smoke weed in eight states and Washington, DC. 29 states have legalized medical marijuana.

Chances are in the next 5-10 years or less that medical marijuana will be legal in all 50 states, at the very least.

So what role does marijuana have, if any, during pregnancy?

Currently, over three percent of women admit to using marijuana during pregnancy according to a 2015 government survey. The number is more than likely higher than that.

According to a woman going by the name of “Jane” in a recent article on WECT.com the nausea during her pregnancy was too much to bear.

“I would just eat a few almonds here and there, That was the only thing that I could keep down, almonds and seltzer water. And as soon as I vaped the cannabis, instantly I was hungry and was able to hold down entire meals, and it was great.”

The story goes on to quote Emily Earlenbaugh, Ph.D., a medical marijuana card holder herself for chronic pain issues and a cannabis consultant.

“I think using cannabis during pregnancy is a growing trend right now. It’s important to look at the medical research and see is this a safe option relative to other medications that you might use in place of it or relative to using nothing at all.”

Safety has always been the reason of opposition for legalization of marijuana, with opponents often claiming weed is the gateway drug to harsher substances such as meth, cocaine, heroine, and more. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association admits there is little research on the subject of marijuana and pregnancy, but there is cause for concern. It links anemia and low birth weight to marijuana use and says there is a higher chance for infants to be placed in the NICU.

Dr. Earlenbaugh says there is more to the story.

“If you’re already using tobacco, alcohol during pregnancy, you’re more likely to also be using cannabis, and we really can’t say whether those patients who are reporting cannabis use are not taking other substances at the same time.”

What are your thoughts? Is cannabis something to be considered during pregnancy? Would you consider it? Have you considered it or used it during pregnancy? Let us know in the comments below!