Women And Drugs
The Effects Of Marijuana On The Fetus
Marijuana, Fetal Development, Birth Defects
Given evidence that THC affects female reproductive function, one might expect it to have a potentially adverse effect on the outcome of pregnancy.
There is a possibility that THC, and possibly other cannabinoids, are teratogens, (i.e. substances that may interfere with the normal development of the foetus in utero).
The animal evidence indicates that in sufficient dosage cannabis can produce resorption, growth retardation, and malformations in mice, rats, rabbits, and hamsters (Bloch, 1983, p406).
Growth resorption and growth retardation have been more consistently reported than birth malformations (Abel, 1985).
There is also evidence that cannabis increases rates of malformations but the doses required to reliably produce malformations have been very high.
Such effects have been observed more often after the administration of crude marijuana extract than pure THC, suggesting that other cannabinoids may be involved in producing any teratogenic effects and not THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Some have argued, for example, that the malformations may be a consequence of reduced nutrition caused by the aversive properties of the large doses of cannabis used in these studies.
Hollister (1986) has also discounted the animal research data, arguing that virtually every drug that has ever been studied for dysmorphogenic effects has been found to have them if the doses are high enough, if enough species are tested, or if treatment is prolonged.
Similar views have been expressed by Abel (1985) and by Bloch (1983), who concluded that THC was unlikely to be teratogenic in humans because the few reports of teratogenicity in rodents and rabbits indicate that cannabinoids are, at most, weakly teratogenic in these species.
Chromosomal Abnormalities & Genetic Effects
It has been speculated that teratogenesis could conceivably produce chromosomal abnormalities or genetic change in either parent which could be transmitted to their progeny.
Although possible, there is no animal or human evidence that such events occur. The experimental evidence indicates that in vivo and in vitro exposure to purified cannabinoids or cannabis resin failed to increase the frequency of chromosomal damage or mutagenesis (Bloch, 1983, p412).
Marijuana smoke exposure, by contrast, has been associated with chromosomal aberrations [such as] hypoploidy, mutagenicity.
The latter fact means it is more likely that the person who smokes marijuana is at more of a risk of cancers from exposure to cannabis smoke rather than to the risks of transmissible genetic defects in their offspring.
Hollister concluded that even if a small increase in chromosomal abnormalities is produced by cannabis, the clinical significance is doubtful.
Conclusion, unless you smoke in excess of three grams (6 to 10 joints) of marijuana a day, everyday you are pregnant, it is very unlikely that you will damage your unborn baby.
This is not to say that you should use any drug or medication while pregnant. You will not do any good to your baby if you use marijuana while pregnant.
National Drug Strategy Monograph Series No. 25,
Health And Psychological Consequences Of Cannabis Use
By Lynn M. Johnson, 1998
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