New Research Provides More Evidence That Marijuana Hurts Unborn Children

Marijuana

Research continues to show marijuana use during pregnancy hurts unborn children.

A study published on Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics highlighted how marijuana exposure in the womb is linked to poorer attention span, worse planning abilities, and with increased aggression during early childhood.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time researchers have found evidence that marijuana use during pregnancy is dangerous.

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.

A 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers In Pediatrics found marijuana use during pregnancy could decrease a newborn’s birthweight by approximately one-third of a pound.

Writing in JAMA Internal Medicine over the summer, researchers announced that using marijuana during pregnancy raises a woman’s risk of developing gestational hypertension (high blood pressure), preeclampsia, weight gain, and placental abruption.

And a study published this year found women who used marijuana during pregnancy faced a staggering 631% greater risk of fetal death.

All of this underscores what we have said for year: 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.

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Homeschooling Hits Record Levels as Surge Continues in Arkansas

Home School

New reports from the Arkansas Department of Education show homeschooling’s surge has continued across the state.

The State of Arkansas tracks homeschool statistics and publishes reports every year. The newly updated reports for the recently-completed 2023-2024 school year reveal homeschooling peaked last year, with 32,767 homeschooled students in Arkansas.

Homeschooling has grown significantly over the past 30 years, but it has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019 there were a little less than 22,000 homeschoolers in Arkansas. In early 2020, those numbers climbed to 22,249. During the 2020-2021 school year, home schooling surged to 30,267 students. In 2022 and 2023, homeschooling hovered around 30,000 students. In 2024, homeschooling surged again, to 32,767 students.

One reason homeschooling increased during the past school year may be the new LEARNS Act, which lets families use public dollars to educate their children at a private school or at home.

Since its passage in 2023, more than 16,000 students have applied for funding under Arkansas’ LEARNS Act.

Many families feel like public education has deteriorated over the years, and they don’t like the direction it is heading. For those families, school choice legislation like the LEARNS Act could empower them with real alternatives that will help their children succeed.

That is part of the reason Family Council supported the 2023 LEARNS Act.

The fact that homeschooling continues to surge in Arkansas shows there is serious demand for school choice.

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

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