Praised for its ability to reduce pain and nausea, cannabis (marijuana) has become a common drug used by pregnant women to relieve morning sickness symptoms. Since 2002, the percentage of women using marijuana during pregnancy has doubled, and that number continues to grow as the drug becomes more socially acceptable. However, marijuana’s extensive effects on women and their children have been found to cause long-term consequences on patients.
In a study conducted in Portugal, marijuana was found to activate cell death in the placenta, disrupting normal gestational development. Neurotransmitters produced by the body called endocannabinoids help control placental development through endocannabinoid signaling. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a key compound derived from marijuana which relieves pain and gives the euphoria the drug is known for, is structurally similar to the endocannabinoids within the body.
Image Source: Rapid Eye
The Portuguese study found that THC was able to mimic endocannabinoid function and cause irregular cell death in the placenta, disrupting prenatal development. The study also linked THC’s interference ability to marijuana’s other known effects on the fetus, like premature births, intrauterine growth restriction, and low birth weight. Children who were prenatally exposed to marijuana also suffered from respiratory conditions and showed greater rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in a cohort study conducted by researchers in Argentina.
As recent state legislation legalizing recreational use has allowed for marijuana to become more socially acceptable, its identity as a psychoactive drug often gets forgotten. More and more people begin marijuana use for medical purposes without truly understanding the consequences of the drug on their bodies. As the numbers of pregnant women using the drug for symptom relief increase due to the assumption that it is legal and therefore safe, more children can be harmed by the drug. However, similar to how legality does not correlate to morality, it also does not correlate to safety. These misconceptions can lead to damaging consequences for all involved and it is important to consider the real cost of drugs before choosing to use them.
Feature Image Source: herbalhemp.
