New data released from the largest longitudinal study on children and teen’s brain development and health in the U.S., the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, adds to the growing body of evidence that marijuana use during pregnancy causes harm to the child that lasts for many years. Researchers find that marijuana use after the middle of the first trimester in pregnancy is associated with various mental disorders including attention, social, and behavioral problems for the affected child and these conditions continue through the child’s pre-teen years. Such conditions increase the risk for later substance use and mental health disorder development.
Despite the fallacies promoted by Big Marijuana, there is no safe level of marijuana use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Marijuana contains just about 500 chemicals including the psychoactive ingredient THC that can pass from mother to baby through the placenta affecting the child’s development. Therefore, it is critical that pregnant, breastfeeding, and women of child bearing age refrain from marijuana use which not only benefits their health but helps their child grow to their full potential.
Reference:
- 2022, September 12. Prenatal cannabis exposure associated with mental disorders in children that persist into early adolescence. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2022/09/prenatal-cannabis-exposure-associated-with-mental-disorders-in-children-that-persist-into-early-adolescence on 2022, September 13
- https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana/marijuana-pregnancy
