Effects of Marijuana Usage During Pregnancy

Marijuana also known as cannabis is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States. An active chemical is present in marijuana called delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Signs and symptoms of the marijuana addiction are feeling sleepy, lack of concentration, inflammation in eyes, cravings for sweat and increased appetite.

Regular use of marijuana can have adverse effects on the delicate group of people like pregnant women and the following are the effects of marijuana usage on the pregnant women:

• Use of the marijuana by the pregnant women can cause the fetus to be born at a low birth weight than the normal children.
• Fetuses exposed to marijuana and its components in uterus, can be born addicted to marijuana as well as suffering from developmental disabilities.
• Fetus exposed to marijuana grows slowly when compared to the fetus which is not exposed to the same drug.
• Women who smoke marijuana during pregnancy are at the risk of a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.
• Babies who are born to the mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy exhibit fetal alcohol syndrome, which has symptoms such as, problems with the nervous system, being born too small and abnormally shaped heads.
• Marijuana not only effects the fetus but it also effects the mother who is abusing marijuana in many ways. It increases the heart beat, may also cause cancer because of the carcinogens present in it. Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory.

The above effects are very detrimental for both mother and baby.