07/23/2023
The number of women using cannabis while pregnant has been steadily increasing, especially as more states legalize ma*****na. Women use ma*****na in pregnancy to manage nausea and vomiting, chronic or pregnancy-related pain, anxiety, insomnia or to improve their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
How does cannabis use affect the developing fetus? Although there is a lack of good-quality research, studies have suggested that ma*****na use in pregnancy may lead to lower birth weights as well as neurodevelopmental and mental health issues. Therefore, women are counseled to abstain from cannabis use while pregnant and harm reduction options should be offered to those women who continue to use.
Additionally, there may be legal implications of using ma*****na while pregnant. Since 2019, Oklahoma has charged at least 26 women with felony child neglect for cannabis use in pregnancy. This charge can carry a sentence of life in prison. What?! An Arizona woman was charged with child neglect and placed on the child abuse registry. Although she has since been removed from the registry, the trauma was already inflicted. Women have been jailed while pregnant for ma*****na use. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia consider substance use to be child abuse. Many of these women being criminally charged for cannabis use while pregnant were issued a medical ma*****na card by a physician for intractable pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
Even if the benefits outweigh the risks of using medical ma*****na while pregnant, it is imperative that you be aware of your state's laws around substance use in pregnancy.
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