Cannabis increases the risk of some complications during pregnancy by 1.5 times: study
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Scientists have said that the use of cannabis is associated with a number of unhealthy complications in pregnant women.
In particular, its psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol can increase the risk of stillbirth, maternal high blood pressure, low birth weight, and other complications.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), reports Medical News Today.
Scientists from the University of Utah examined more than 9,000 pregnant women from 8 medical centers in the United States. Researchers say that pregnant women have a 1.5 times higher health risk if they use cannabis.
Note that the scientific article deals with the effect on pregnant women tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which gives a “high” feeling and can be addictive.
The main substance of medical cannabis is non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD), which is used to treat epilepsy, PTSD, sleep disorders, etc. Different drugs may have a greater or lesser ratio of THC to CBD.
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The study found that 26% of pregnant women exposed to cannabis had an unhealthy pregnancy, compared to 17% of pregnant women who did not use cannabis.
Risks during pregnancy were directly related to the amount of cannabis used.
“Cannabis use is not safe. It increases the risk of complications during pregnancy. If possible, cannabis should not be used during pregnancy.”said Dr. Robert Silver, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah and one of the authors of the study.
In a new study, scientists identified risks such as stillbirth, maternal high blood pressure, low birth weight and premature birth.
Moreover, the connection between the use of cannabis and low birth weight of the child was the strongest.
According to them, these conditions are associated with a reduced function of the placenta, which provides the child with nutrients and oxygen.
The authors of the study did not determine exactly why cannabis is associated with negative consequences for pregnant women. But previous studies in primates have shown that long-term cannabis use can interfere with the blood supply to their placenta.
Similar violations can occur with the human placenta.
The research team notes that information on the effects of cannabis on pregnant women can be conflicting. Some previous studies have found no link between cannabis use and complications during pregnancy.
One of the reasons scientists have previously had mixed results about cannabis and pregnancy is because of differences in the baseline characteristics of people who use and do not use cannabis during pregnancy.
Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Utah say their study was larger, included a larger sample of participants and more accurately measured the effects of cannabis. They were better able to distinguish the effects of cannabis use from those caused by other diseases or nicotine use.
In the study, scientists measured the level of a byproduct of cannabis metabolism in urine samples. This produced more accurate results than previous studies that relied on respondents’ self-reports of cannabis use, as respondents typically underestimated the actual frequency and extent of cannabis use.
In the US, many people use cannabis for nausea or anxiety. However, scientists urged pregnant women who are considering the use of cannabis to consult a doctor, and do not use cannabis recreationally (for “high”).
Thomas Ruiz, lead obstetrician-gynecologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, also clarified that the method of cannabis use is not important.
“What is important is the level of THC in the mother’s blood and the amount of THC that passes through the placenta to the developing fetus,” – says Ruiz.
Read also: Teens who frequently use cannabis are more likely to give birth to a premature baby – study
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