Using Marijuana for Morning Sickness is Dangerous

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A new study shows that more women than ever are turning to marijuana for morning sickness, although there is no medical evidence to show that this is safe. In fact, experts are warning that using marijuana while with child is dangerous for the unborn.

The study, which followed trends in pregnant women in California, is a cause for alarm for many reasons. For one thing, the marijuana use referenced in the study was self-reported, which means that study participants likely under-reported their use of cannabis. An earlier study by the same organization also found marijuana use among pregnant women rose from 2.37% in 2002 to 3.85% in 2014.

The numbers may sound small, but the worries of medical providers are not. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, published an editorial explaining the many dangers. Few things are known about the effects of marijuana use on fetal development. However, with reports that women should avoid sugar, caffeine, and even specific candies such as licorice to help with normal fetal growth, it seems that marijuana use would be an automatic “no” for pregnant women. Most of the women in these studies were younger, typically ages 18-24, and may not be aware of the dangers.

Many people are suspicious of prescriptions and worry the dangers of “big pharma” drugs are more pronounced than the dangers of marijuana. Marijuana is touted as a natural, safe alternative to other medications, and more women seem to think it’s less dangerous than medical treatments for morning sickness and other ailments. It is also possible that many of these pregnant young women are addicted to marijuana, and have trouble quitting usage on their own.

Marijuana is a drug. It has mostly been viewed as a recreational drug in the past 10 years, and few medical studies can back up the medicinal usage for pregnant women.

marijuana for morning sickness

What the Research on Using Marijuana During Pregnancy Says

No research or recommendations, even from medicinal marijuana providers, suggest that marijuana usage during pregnancy is a good idea.

In fact, research from the Centers for Disease and Control shows pregnant women who use marijuana put their child at risk of low birth weight and developmental problems. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuses, animal studies have linked marijuana use to miscarriages, but no human evidence currently shows how large this risk is. However, research shows that women who use marijuana while pregnant are 2.3 times as likely to have a stillborn child.

Using drugs while pregnant is more dangerous than drinking coffee or soda while pregnant, and it is not a solution to your medical needs. Whatever you put in your body, you are putting in a vulnerable, not-fully-developed body that hasn’t even taken its first breath. If you are having severe morning sickness, talk to your obstetrician or primary care doctor. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women avoid marijuana while trying to get pregnant, during pregnancy, and while they are still breastfeeding. Using marijuana for morning sickness can be dangerous to your baby’s health.

If you are pregnant and having trouble ceasing drug or alcohol use, there is help available. You’re not alone, and you’re not a bad person. Addiction is a disease and it can be treated with the right support network in place. Please call a treatment center on this page or your local Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous hotline. You don’t have to use if you don’t want to, and you don’t have to make the journey alone.