As states have begun to legalize marijuana, its use has been more openly discussed. While the effects of other commonly used drugs, such as alcohol, have been studied extensively, the effects of marijuana – especially on developing babies during pregnancy – have been much less studied and less widely publicized. This relative silence from the scientific community has affected the public’s opinion on the safety of marijuana: 70 percent of U.S. women think there is “slight or no risk of harm” to the baby from using marijuana during pregnancy. Expectant mothers may use marijuana rather than prescription drugs during pregnancy to relieve pain because they feel “natural” or home remedies are a safer option than prescription drugs. However, just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it is any safer or a better alternative to well-studied prescription drugs. This seems to be the case for marijuana. Given that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug during pregnancy, understanding its risks and impacts on the developing fetus is important.
Three large-scale longitudinal studies tracked how maternal cannabis use affected their child’s development, and they have had surprisingly consistent results. The Ottawa Prenatal Prospective Study surveyed 700 pregnant women who used marijuana in 1978 and has followed about 200 of those children into adulthood. The U.S.-based Maternal Health Practices and Child Development Study has studied 580 children of marijuana users from pregnancy through age 14. The Generation R study is tracking almost 8,000 children in the Netherlands.
Children of marijuana users were more impulsive and hyperactive, and exhibited behavioral issues, lower IQ scores, and memory problems when compared to children of non-users. These mental health problems persisted through their teenage years, where they were significantly more likely to have attention problems and depression. Marijuana-exposed children were also almost twice as likely to display delinquent behavior, such as drug use, by the age of 14 and were more than twice as likely to regularly use marijuana and tobacco as adults. The very consistent results between mice and human studies (summarized in the infographic from The Scientist below) highlights an increasing understanding of the impacts of marijuana use on development.
It’s important to note that some behavioral outcomes may not be completely related to fetal marijuana exposure. Children of marijuana users may have grown up in a different social environment with more lax views on drugs, contributing to their increased drug use.
As marijuana continues to be legalized, we should expect to see more studies on its health effects and safety.
Managing Correspondent: Chelsea Weidman Burke
Press Article: The Scientist
Original Journal Articles: The Ottawa Prenatal Prospective Study
The Maternal Health Practices and Child Development Study
Image Credit: Cleveland Public Library
Could it be possible those behavioral and developmental issues were genetic? And is this study purely based on marijuana use or were these mother also partaking in tobacco, alcohol, or other drug usage? This study seems slightly vague and doesn’t give a lot of solid facts on the controlled variables that were in place.
I am a concerned GG and I was just asking and got some pretty lax opinions.. if a parent really cares about their child or fetus they will do everything possible to make sure their child is healthy and normal.. Children are a gift and only loaned to us for short time.. Please make sure you do everything possible to make sure your child is protected from start to finish … or don’t have any.. Life is hard enough without disabilities and abuse..You see some that do fine but you don’t see the ones that don’t.. Try thinking about them 1st. And fore most..
How about mothers just not use drugs!
Excellent post. This is something that is not brought up enough. We always hear on marijuana and the developing brain on teens and youth. We NEVER hear any evidence based backed research on pregnancies. Loved this post.
Would you let your 5 year old smoke marijuana? The women claiming smoking marijuana has no effect on the fetus are in denial. What is their tolerance level? Not the same as an unborn fetus. Per pound what is the prescribed dosage a pregnant mother should take without causing harm to fetus?
Thank you so much for posting this. This is very informative and worth reading. I would be glad to share this with my friends and family.
Vote is up for prop 207 today in Arizona (legalization of marijuana)
With having frequented marijuana use as a juvenile, and my parents being busted for distribution, I of course lean to legalization.
Although, being a nationalist (not white nationalist) I can distinguish a number of dynamics and parameters that marijuana has intermittently interceded, with the likes of this ;and microevolution in frequent users in general being the most resound… And with this and that, part of me wants to say no.
With that, is there any studies into the correlations between propaganda and the premise to negative inert predispositions or positive inert predispositions in the parents, reflecting in their interaction with the children that might effect things such as dopamine levels, glutamate signaling, and synapse formation?
I have read that growth can be severely stunted by stress and negative thinking. How does a mothers general attitude reflect in her speech pathology with her child, constantly thinking that he … could be potentially less intelligent due to the study?
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My 3 month old grandson is precious but he is experiencing direct affects of his mother’s smoking in the same apartment where he sleeps. She puts a towel under the door but that does nothing for the vapors permeating the entire apartment. it’s in the carpet, in the walls, in everything that can hold a smell-fabric, clothing, etc. he can;t keep still most times but not as in baby motions– he is jerking and startled by magnitude of rapid motions. This calms down a great deal while he is at my house. It is abuse. plain and simple.
Does he sleep alot my 3 month old grand daughter is in a home where they smoke I find she sleeps alot when I keep her she wakes more often to eat
This is so sad and it is abuse. Toxins going into bloodstream with every breath . I see the easily startled ones, the shaking arms and hands. Pray that this all stops…
Ummmm marajuana does not cause the shakes in babys. Thats crack, cocane, and even alocohol. To “od” on marajuan you would have to smoke over a lb of weed which is impossible btw. I am not saying ot is wise to smoke while pregnant but if your going to shoot up your kid with mercury, formaldehyde, aborted fetal tissue, and animal remains I cant imagine marajuana being much worse than that. Oh and floride in the water too. Just saying. There are many legal things that are much more harmful to your child that we considder to be normal and even healthy and no one bats an eye. I have known several women who had smoked while pregnants and their kids are bright and well behaved. Some have even skipped a grade.
This is horrible and your grandchild should not have to suffer the constant exposure. However I do not believe cannabis use is completely abuse. I smoke in a safe environment away from my children and keep all of belongings completely out of reach. I never let my house smell of it or expose my children to it. I hope your daughter realizes her use is not safe for her child, but not everyone is like that and most are just trying to do what they can to have a stress free pregnancy.
Let’s all take the time to understand that Studies are done for a reason, mostly to gain a better understanding of the affects that substances may have on the body while being used. This does not mean that everyone will experience these affects. It is to educate on the risk involved, and possibility of these affects. It is then up to us as consumers, to determine if we are willing to take that chance. In this case, are we willing to take the chance of exposing the unborn fetus to this substance, after learning there may be a POSSIBILITY of a negative outcome for this child and their future? It all comes down to how much you’re willing to gamble, and how much risk your willing to take.
Ok personal experiences are not the same as a peer reviewed study. I hope everyone understands this. Not hating on how you feel but these are longitudinal studies. If you dont agree, either do your own research or accept that that may be the case. Marijuana may be good for some things but marijuana does indeed affect a developing brain, it does it to preteens who use it everyday so of course it would affect a brain that’s forming in the womb.