AMA warns against Marijuana Use during Pregnancy, Breastfeeding

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on November 17, 2015.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has agreed that use of marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding, may pose risk to the women as well as their babies. The AMA sought a clear message in this regard to be written on medical and recreational products as well as on the stores where they are being sold.

The decision to spread the message, was taken based on studies that suggested that marijuana use may be linked with low birth weight, premature birth and behavior problems in young children. While the critics of this decision claim that the evidences are not strong enough to reach a conclusion, others agree that more research is required, but cautioning about its use does make sense.

The AMA's new policy says that some studies have linked marijuana use in pregnancy with childhood attention problems and children's mental growth. It quoted a study, which found THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana in the milk of women who use it while breastfeeding.

As there are similar warnings for alcohol and tobacco for pregnant women, AMA does not see any wrong in issuing the guidelines for the use of marijuana. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, had proposed the warnings at an AMA policy-making meeting in Atlanta, which was accepted without much debate. Some women use marijuana during or after pregnancy to remove nausea, chronic pain or depression. But, there are alternatives without any risk factor.

The AMA policy seeks local and state measures to implement the warnings, as marijuana remains illegal under federal law and it won't have to do much there. Medical marijuana is legal in 23 states and Washington, D.C.' while recreational use of marijuana is legal in Washington D.C., Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

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