Marijuana is Dangerous for Unborn Children: New Study

Photo Source: University of Utah Health.

Yet another study shows marijuana use during pregnancy poses a serious risk for unborn children.

In a study published earlier this month, researchers at University of Utah reviewed data from more than 9,000 pregnant women across the U.S.

Their findings show marijuana exposure during pregnancy is associated with a host of unhealthy outcomes — especially low birth weight for newborns. Researchers also found that higher marijuana exposure is associated with higher risks.

Marijuana use raised a woman’s risk of experiencing an unhealthy pregnancy outcome nearly 49% — from 17 in 100 to nearly 26 in 100.

The study goes to show once again just how important it was that Arkansans rejected marijuana at the ballot box in 2022.

Researchers have found over and over that marijuana use is harmful — especially for pregnant women and unborn children.

Earlier this year researchers from Oregon Health & Science University published a showing that consuming THC during pregnancy could affect an unborn child’s development.

A 2023 study found marijuana use during pregnancy could decrease a newborn’s birthweight by approximately one-third of a pound — which is a significant amount for a baby.

A 2021 study out of California found infants were 35% more likely to die within a year of birth if their mother used marijuana heavily, and that infants were more likely to be born preterm, have a low birth weight, and be small for their gestational age.

The list goes on and one.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Arkansas State Police Seize $3.6M Worth of Illegal Marijuana in Lonoke Co. Traffic Stop

Above: a suitcase full of illegal marijuana seized in Monday’s traffic stop. Photo Credit: Arkansas State Police.

On Monday the Arkansas State Police seized an estimated $3.6 million worth of illegal marijuana during a traffic stop in Lonoke County, according to an official press release. The driver reportedly was travelling from California to Florida.

While very little is known about this particular situation, it serves as a reminder that marijuana’s legalization in places like California has actually fueled the black market and the drug cartels rather than weakening them.

For example, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized nearly $162 million worth of illegal marijuana during the first half of this year.

In New Mexico, a loophole in state law has allowed criminals to operate marijuana businesses without a proper background check, and Oregon has been inundated by industrial scale marijuana cultivation sites operated illegally by organized crime and drug cartels.

Some of these marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime.

Authorities in Oregon reportedly seized some 105 tons of illicit marijuana last year.

It’s worth pointing out that if Arkansas had passed marijuana amendment Issue 4 in 2022, our marijuana laws arguably would be more lax than Oregon’s and California’s in many ways. Fortunately, voters rejected that measure at the ballot box.

Contrary to popular belief, legalization does not decrease drug-related crime, and it does not alleviate drug abuse. If anything, it seems to make these problems worse.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Genetics May Increase Dangers of Marijuana Use for Some People: New Study

A new study indicates that genetics may make marijuana use more dangerous for some people than for others.

Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine analyzed genetic data from a little over a million people worldwide, identifying genes associated with marijuana addiction and other health complications.

The study’s authors noted that chronic marijuana use is tied to “various cancers associated with inhaling combustion products,” decreased cognitive ability, and increased risk for schizophrenia.

The study found genetics play a role in the likelihood a marijuana user will develop “cannabis use disorder” — meaning they will be unable to stop using marijuana even though it’s causing health and social problems in their lives.

The study also found possible genetic links between marijuana use and a person’s risk of developing other serious health problems, and revealed a correlation between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia.

More and more, science reveals that marijuana poses serious health risks.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.