A recent study out of California found a link between heavy marijuana use during pregnancy and negative health outcomes among children.
Researchers found infants were 35% more likely to die within a year of birth if the mother used marijuana heavily; the study also found that infants were more likely to be born preterm, have a low birth weight, and be small for their gestational age.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, recent studies have shown marijuana use during pregnancy is rising, with some expectant mothers reportedly using it to relieve nausea and vomiting.
In 2019 the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning women not to use marijuana during pregnancy.
That same year the Arkansas Department of Health issued an advisory on marijuana as well.
Among other things, the Arkansas Department of Health’s advisory noted, “Marijuana is particularly harmful to a developing child. Smoking marijuana during pregnancy is associated with being born at low birth weight, a risk factor for death in the child’s first year of life.”
This latest research seems to confirm that marijuana is dangerous to children.
All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.
