The Effects of Marijana on the Fetus

The great marijuana debate. There is a lot of conflicting evidence as to whether or not the use of marijuana can result in harmful effects to the fetus of pregnant mothers. The exact effects of marijuana on unborn children are unknown to the scientific community at this time. The use of any type of drugs is recommended against by health care providers because of the way they work. Toxins in drugs can cross from the mother's bloodstream through the placenta and into the blood stream of the fetus much easier than other toxins which the placenta can filter out of the blood before passing it on to the fetus. The problem with researching the effects of marijuana on the fetus is due to the fact that many habitual users also use toxins such as alcohol, tobacco or other recreational drugs, thus making it difficult to isolate incidents of adverse effects on the fetus from the sole use of marijuana during pregnancy. Many researchers also cite the fact that there are no established methodologies to allow scientists to use consistent research methods when creating and implementing studies concerning marijuana use during pregnancy.

The use of marijuana by pregnant women has been directly linked to increased risk of miscarriage in many studies. The reasons cited being that regular usage of marijuana can result in chemical imbalance which is necessary for the proper implantation and development of the fetus. Other studies have concluded no causational effect between the regular use of marijuana and miscarriage.

Scientists are split on the belief that marijuana use during pregnancy can result in behavioral and cognitive disorders in newborns and older children that were exposed to marijuana in the womb. One school of thought is that exposure to marijuana in the womb leads to reduced cognitive reflexes in newborns and can cause the child to exhibit behavioral and learning impaired disorders later in life. Some studies have shown that newborns of mothers who use marijuana habitually show altered responses to visual stimuli, increased incidences of tremors and high pitched crying which may indicate problems with the nervous system development. Others feel that there is not enough conclusive evidence of this since the brain continues to grow well into adolescence. Studies on behavioral and cognitive problems related to exposure to marijuana in the womb are ongoing.

Many people believe that the regular use of marijuana while pregnant can cause congenital birth defects. While the use of illegal drugs is considered the cause of 3% of birth defects, there is no conclusive study showing the sole use of marijuana as the cause of congenital birth defects. In many studies children born with birth defects to none marijuana users were on average the same as the general population.

One concern about the use of marijuana by pregnant women is the assertage that it causes low birth weight and impedes fetal growth. This is generally accepted by the medical community to be accurate although there is no absolutely conclusive showing it to be absolutely true. Many women who habitually use marijuana while pregnant also have other factors which scientists feel can just as easily be the contributing factor to low birth weight such as the use of other drugs, frequency of drinking alcohol or smoking, low economical status, poor dietary habits or less access to prenatal care in general than none marijuana users.

Although studies remain none conclusive, health practitioners advice against the use of marijuana during pregnancy simply because there is so little known about the effects on the fetus and so much controversial evidence that links it to potential dangers to the unborn child.