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Effects Of Cannabis On
Conception, & Pregnancy
Written By Cris Mark
Cannabis (marijuana, hash, hash oil)
continues to be a very
controversial drug. To legalize or not legalize is the question in many places
today.
If our perfectly legal, drugs such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are all
proven to cause various conception and pregnancy problems, then why should I
think that cannabis would be any safer?
While drug activists may be quick to tell you about how cannabis can be safely
used as a herbal treatment for morning sickness, and while marijuana may be
considerably safer than say "thalidomide" (we all
know about that disaster prescribed for morning sickness) you really need to
wonder and question the safety of using this very common recreational drug
during conception, pregnancy or breast feeding.
Studies have proven that cannabis is higher in toxic carcinogens than
cigarettes. Studies have shown cellular damage to the lungs of cannabis smokers,
who smoked only two joints of cannabis a day, to be as harmful as the damage
caused by 28 tobacco cigarettes
The active ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which gives
the following effects, a false sense of well-being; difficulty concentrating;
distortions in time, and visual or auditory, hallucinations. Other effects can
include, increased heart rate, reddening of the eyes, and extreme sleepiness.
The effect of Cannabis on reproduction also appears pretty
conclusive. Marijuana reportedly lowers sperm production and testosterone
secretion.
According to several studies, pregnant women who continue to smoke cannabis are
at a greater risk of their children being born with birth defects, of giving
birth to low birth weight babies, and to delivering prematurely.
Studies have shown an increased risk of certain cancers, such as leukemia, in
children whose mother's smoked cannabis while pregnant.
Other recent research suggests that exposure to cannabis in the womb can affect
the mental development of the child, later in life. At an early age these
children showed some, reduced verbal and memory skills. By school age, the
researchers noted, an increase in impulsiveness and a decrease in attentiveness
in children whose mothers used cannabis heavily.
Another study conducted on breast-fed infants, (accessed from moderate to heavy
cannabis smoking mothers), found they were exposed to marijuana via the mother's
milk. Marijuana exposure via the mother's milk during the first month after
birth appeared to be associated with a decrease in infant motor development.
While I'm sure their are many other stories and studies on the web that will
dispute the ones represented here, I can only say, why take a chance on
something so important.
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Cris Mark is a writer, and author of Making Babies At 40+. Visit her site Mid
Life Mom's to look at the many issues concerning the health, wealth, and needs
of the mature mom. Your feedback and stories are always welcome.
Discussion board, link exchange, and our free newsletter can be found at
http://www.midlifemom.com
Copyright@2003
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