2014 Marijuana Use in Pregnancy: Implications for Medical Marijuana Laws
The United States has one of the highest stillbirth rates among developed nations of the world, affecting 26,000 newborns in this country each year. Now, a new study has been published that shows that marijuana use in pregnancy increases risk of stillbirth 2.3 times. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated the impact of prenatal exposure to marijuana on the exposed child’s long term executive functioning. This is all against a background of numerous states passing medical marijuana laws, and critical questions of how marijuana affects pregnancy must be raised. Do any of these laws that allow the medical use of marijuana or legalize marijuana altogether consider precautions that should be taken to warn pregnant women against its use? The answer is no. This webinar reviews the known effects of marijuana use on pregnancy and child outcome and discusses the policy implications for new and emerging medical marijuana legislation in states across the country.
The United States has one of the highest stillbirth rates among developed nations of the world, affecting 26,000 newborns in this country each year. Now, a new study has been published that shows that marijuana use in pregnancy increases risk of stillbirth 2.3 times. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated the impact of prenatal exposure to marijuana on the exposed child’s long term executive functioning. This is all against a background of numerous states passing medical marijuana laws, and critical questions of how marijuana affects pregnancy must be raised. Do any of these laws that allow the medical use of marijuana or legalize marijuana altogether consider precautions that should be taken to warn pregnant women against its use? The answer is no. This webinar reviews the known effects of marijuana use on pregnancy and child outcome and discusses the policy implications for new and emerging medical marijuana legislation in states across the country.
The United States has one of the highest stillbirth rates among developed nations of the world, affecting 26,000 newborns in this country each year. Now, a new study has been published that shows that marijuana use in pregnancy increases risk of stillbirth 2.3 times. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated the impact of prenatal exposure to marijuana on the exposed child’s long term executive functioning. This is all against a background of numerous states passing medical marijuana laws, and critical questions of how marijuana affects pregnancy must be raised. Do any of these laws that allow the medical use of marijuana or legalize marijuana altogether consider precautions that should be taken to warn pregnant women against its use? The answer is no. This webinar reviews the known effects of marijuana use on pregnancy and child outcome and discusses the policy implications for new and emerging medical marijuana legislation in states across the country.