(NewsReady.com) – Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana as of 2024. From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of daily or almost daily marijuana use has increased 15-fold. New research shows that it might be linked to preterm birth complications.
On July 22, the JAMA Internal Medicine medical journal published a peer-reviewed study outlining the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy. The researchers studied 316,722 pregnancies from 2011 to 2019 and found the use of marijuana increased the risk of preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, placental abruption, and weight gain that was less than or higher than the recommended guidelines.
According to researchers, patients believed that using marijuana during pregnancy to help with pain, depression, morning sickness, stress, and other issues would be safer than prescription medications. The study showed evidence that cannabis use was associated with moderate increases in the risk of complications, including premature birth and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays.
The researchers found that marijuana use increases the possibility of complications for the mother. As mentioned, placental abruption is more likely to occur. That’s when the placenta separates from the uterine wall before birth, reducing the baby’s oxygen supply and causing the mother to bleed heavily. It can lead to blood transfusions, kidney failure, and other complications for the mom and the baby.
There’s also a 17% increase in the likelihood that the mother will suffer from pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and an 8% increase in preeclampsia, which can lead to pre-term birth, organ failure, and death. Doctors already warn against the use of marijuana during pregnancy.
The study comes as the Drug Enforcement Administration weighs whether to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. President Joe Biden supports efforts to reclassify it. Florida voters are weighing a constitutional amendment that would allow recreational marijuana use in the state this November.
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