.. can a MOM really use Cannabis?
This is a very touchy subject since the number one fear is the law taking your child away. Two conversations are happening simultaneously: Using Cannabis while pregnant and Children using Cannabis.
From autism to epileptic seizures, Cannabis and isolated compounds from Cannabis like CBD are showing in studies to help children. Israel is a pioneer in this type of research and have successfully shown benefits for children using Cannabis. They are also showing positive results with Cannabis use for elderly suffering with chronic pain and mental degenerate diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.
Studies here in the states have ALSO shown Cannabis to:
Each time the results being against the original expectations.
“We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use. What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect.”
Dr. Donald Tashkin, pulmonologist at UCLA
Now add pregnant women to this group of individuals that can benefit from Cannabis and the conversation gets heavy (as heavy as abortions). Many “outspoken” Moms, nation-wide, have been reported to Child Protective Services. These Moms have each shared their stories of using Cannabis to successfully decrease in nausea, constipation, vomiting, physical pain and anxiety.
Even here in NYC, hospitals can secretly test you (especially if you are a person of color) for THC if they think you might be a Cannabis consumer when you go in to give birth.
When we got pregnant seven years ago, I dove deep into plant medicine research and Cannabis specifically. The results completely shocked me and is still shocking to many. This specific study from the 80’s is call the Jamaican study. 59 Jamaican children, from birth to age 5 years, whose mothers used Cannabis during pregnancy were matched with non-users according to age, parity, and socioeconomic status.
Here is the actual study if you want to read it yourself. The results showed
… NO significant differences in developmental testing outcomes between children of users and non-users except at 30 days of age when the babies of users had more favourable scores on autonomic stability and reflexes.
They continued to study the children all the way to age 5 and their Development or Temperament show no significant difference between moms that used or did not use Cannabis. If anything the Cannabis families did consistently better in schools. What they did see was connection with their home environment to their performance. Keep in mind, this Jamaican study in comparison to other Cannabis studies in the states is unique where studies in the states, the individuals use additional substances (alchohol, tobacco, cocaine) while the Jamaican moms only used Cannabis, specifically as a tea.
Dr, Dreger wanted to go back at age 9 and 10 to see the results but did not get the (re)funding from March of Dimes or The National Institute on Drug Abuse, who originally funded this study.
You can hear Dr. Dreger’s experience here:
Why would this study not be shared and noted many times since the 80’s/90’s? According to Dr Dreger’s, it due to the
“Terrible arrogance, and ethnocentrism that refuses to accept the experience or the science of other cultures”
She continues to say that the two important factors to “sustain life” is eating and sex which Cannabis make both those things pleasurable, therefore worth the legalization and breaking down of stigma no matter what the politics of science, pharmaceuticals or politics itself is.
Additionally, here is Dr. Dreger talking regarding her results from 40 years of Cannabis study in Jamaica.
Personally I would not recommend pregnant women to smoke anything. Its enough toxins that we inhale from the current pollution worldwide. But as a tea, a salve or (thanks to technology) a vape, I say trust your personal relationship with the brilliance of this master, what I like to call, Mother plant Cannabis.
