A study found that 6% of pregnant women use marijuana, many underestimating its risks. Researchers urge education on its harms to fetal health, especially in states with legal medical marijuana. Credit: SciTechDaily.com University of Georgia researchers found that 6% of pregnant women reported recent marijuana use, often without recognizing the associated health risks.
The study calls for better education about marijuana’s adverse effects on pregnancy, especially in states where medical use is legal. It suggests that women consult doctors about safe treatments for nausea instead of turning to marijuana. Marijuana Use in Pregnancy: Prevalence and Perception
A recent study from the University of Georgia College of Public Health found that around 6% of pregnant women reported using marijuana in the past month, with many unaware of potential health risks. Lead researcher Mohammad Rifat Haider emphasized the need for better education on marijuana use during pregnancy.
Published in The American Journal on Addictions , the study analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Out of 4,338 pregnant participants, 5.7% reported marijuana use in the past month.
Among those who used marijuana, 70.9% perceived little or no risk associated with it during pregnancy, despite research linking marijuana use to issues like low birth weight, premature birth, and neurodevelopmental challenges .
While adverse effects of substances like alcohol and illegal drugs are widely recognized, perceptions around marijuana are mixed, said Haider, an assistant professor of health policy and management. While marijuana may alleviate nausea in cancer patients, studies show continued use can lead to harmful side effects.
In pregnancy, however, the evidence points clearly to negative effects, Haider explained. First Trimester and Medical Marijuana
Marijuana use is legal for recreational use in 25 states and for medical purposes in 14 more. Two-thirds of the pregnant women who reported using marijuana lived in a state where medical marijuana was legal at the time of the survey.
Most of the pregnant women who used marijuana were also in their first trimester, and use decreased as the pregnancy progressed. Women in their first trimester may have seen medical marijuana as a way to combat morning […]
New Study Exposes Alarming Trends in Marijuana Use During Pregnancy
