Cannabis 'can harm foetal brain'

[Xil]

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Cannabis 'can harm foetal brain'

Originally Posted by BBC

Cannabis 'can harm foetal brain'

Smoking cannabis while pregnant could harm the developing foetal brain, researchers have claimed.

The team at the University of Aberdeen also said certain prescribed drugs, including some to treat obesity, could have an effect in the womb too.

The work focuses on the importance of molecules produced naturally in the brain, and how certain nerve cells recognise and connect with each other.

Anything that affects this could affect brain function, it was claimed.


Anything that disrupts this process such as cannabis smoking could ultimately affect the brain's functionality

The brain molecules called endocannabinoids are said to function in a similar way to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from cannabis, targeting the same receptors and signalling systems in the brain.

The researchers said this signalling process should occur unhindered for the brain to develop normally.

Prof Tibor Harkany, recruited to the University of Aberdeen as part of the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (Sulsa), said: "Our findings highlight that the integrity of this signalling system should be maintained and not disrupted if the brain is to develop normally.

"Anything that disrupts this process such as cannabis smoking or certain drugs that interfere with this signalling system could ultimately affect the brain's functionality."

'Complex networks'

Jan Mulder, first author of the study and Alzheimer's Research Trust fellow at the University of Aberdeen's Institute of Medical Sciences, said: "Our initial findings showed the importance of these naturally occurring molecules in guiding the growth and connections of nerve cells in the developing brain.

"Now we demonstrate the extent of this signalling system and that complex network of neurons - the backbones of higher cognitive functions - do not develop normally when endocannabinoid signalling is disturbed."

Cannabis is viewed as among the more widely used drugs by women at reproductive age.

Previous research has claimed that babies born to mothers who took cannabis while they were pregnant went on to experience problems with physical activity.

The new research - an experimental study involving mice - is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

This seems like a very vague/poorly written article, not quite up to par. Wouldn't it be nice if actual data was given. As is it just reads like propaganda.

Any thoughts on this article?

[WildWill]

Scientific articles are only as good as their research methods, and since this one doesn't delineate what it was they did and how large of a study group they used, I'll treat it pretty much like the drivel it is.

Though I will say, smoking ANYTHING while you have a baby in utero isn't very smart. However, as we all know there are much safer ways to utilize cannabis while pregnant, and in fact, anecdotal evidence claims that women have been using MJ for ages to ease labor pains during birth.

[spicoli]

the article is just a bunch of words strung together, imo.
just like you said, xil, no data.

[Flying Dutch]

But I don't think either that bbc would be allowed to publish some groundless bunch of words stuck together...., So anyway they based on something..

[Lloydy]

inhaling burning plant matter is bad for baby
theres a suprise

[Flying Dutch]

No surprises..., but there are plenty women which smoke cigarettes and drink while pregnant..., Of course it's better to abstain from everything smoking..., no arguments bud!

[stoneric]

Originally Posted by Lloydy

inhaling burning plant matter is bad for baby
theres a suprise

It's the cannabis they're blaming, not how it's absorbed.

[HCL]

Would vaporizing give the same effect if this were true? I would think so, since you're still getting the THC in your body, but I also think the carcinogens and tar would affect the baby more than the THC would.

[SoothingSmoke]

Kinda disturbing the number of people who outright dismissed this. In my opinion if you ingest ANY mind/body altering substances while pregnant, you're a pretty irresponsible asswipe and you need a good kick in the face (after the baby is born safely of course). Sheesh. What's wrong with people? God forbid we not be able to smoke, drink or otherwise harm ourselves (no matter how small) while there's a CHILD growing inside. The NERVE!

[stoneric]

^^^ Maybe because it might be bullshit? Should a pregnant woman give up all pleasures during pregnancy? If pot has no effect on an unborn child there is no reason to give it up.

[HCL]

Originally Posted by SoothingSmoke

Kinda disturbing the number of people who outright dismissed this. In my opinion if you ingest ANY mind/body altering substances while pregnant, you're a pretty irresponsible asswipe and you need a good kick in the face (after the baby is born safely of course). Sheesh. What's wrong with people? God forbid we not be able to smoke, drink or otherwise harm ourselves (no matter how small) while there's a CHILD growing inside. The NERVE!

History has shown that many different civilizations used marijuana to help ease the pain from child birth during pregnancy.

And the reason why many people dismiss this is because it doesn't even give details. Remember how tobacco companies said nicotine isn't addictive and there's no link between cigarettes and cancer? Yeah, there are such things as bullshit articles and experiments/studies.

[Suliman]

duh....
even if there isent any data, not doing ANY drugs while pregnant is just common sense...

[HCL]

Originally Posted by Suliman

duh....
even if there isent any data, not doing ANY drugs while pregnant is just common sense...

So if you were a pregnant woman, you wouldn't take Advil?

[HCL]

Originally Posted by Suliman

duh....
even if there isent any data, not doing ANY drugs while pregnant is just common sense...

So if you were a pregnant woman, you wouldn't take Advil for a headache or anything?

[Suliman]

Originally Posted by HCL

So if you were a pregnant woman, you wouldn't take Advil for a headache or anything?

nope.
I don't take any pills as it is, thought it might become tempting with all the stress, and I don't condone any women that do that. I'm saying its just common sense that what happens to the pregnant chick happens to the kid. Mind altering substances will also alter the very fragile child's mind.

[stoneric]

Originally Posted by Suliman

nope.
I don't take any pills as it is, thought it might become tempting with all the stress, and I don't condone any women that do that. I'm saying its just common sense that what happens to the pregnant chick happens to the kid. Mind altering substances will also alter the very fragile child's mind.

And you know this for fact? I know a woman that had 5 kids. She smoked on occasion throughout all 5 pregnancies. Every kid turned out normal and did/does great in school. The law of averages would lead one to believe that at least one of her kids would have been fucked up since "common sense" tells me so. And when a woman has an orgasm during pregnancy does the fetus also? And while we're on the subject , wouldn't a woman getting fucked during pregnancy put her fetus' fragile head in danger?

[AnimalLover420]

You'd better BELIEVE that if I ever get knocked up, there will be a full on THC bakery taking place in my home. Cookies, brownies, butters, the works. I wouldn't be one of those selfish, white-trash women who do whatever the fuck they want whilst pregnant. But on the other hand, I don't want to be miserable for 9 months. So ingesting it would be a definite option should I ever procreate, but most of the time I doubt that I will ever have children. Ask me again when I'm 30.

[Roach]

drinking sufficient amounts of sterile water can also have detrimental effects on a fetal brain..


Is there something "new" in the article ?

[WildWill]

Originally Posted by HCL

Would vaporizing give the same effect if this were true? I would think so, since you're still getting the THC in your body, but I also think the carcinogens and tar would affect the baby more than the THC would.

Vaporizing is one of the methods that cause virtually no harm to the fetus. There's no carcinogens in the lungs, no tar, and the THC and Cannabidnols are efficiently used up without burning the leaf. Edibles are better, but Vaporizing is not really an issue.

Again, there are no REAL scientific studies with firm data that can be analyzed regarding cannabis consumption during pregnancy. All the studies that are out there have spurious methodology and unproven data that is designed to brainwash people into thinking that cannabis is the devil weed and should never be used at all, especially during pregnancy. Which is absolutely untrue. Obviously the brainwashing works though, because even people who already imbibe are afraid of using while pregnant. Which is just stupid.

Originally Posted by SoothingSmoke

Kinda disturbing the number of people who outright dismissed this. In my opinion if you ingest ANY mind/body altering substances while pregnant, you're a pretty irresponsible asswipe and you need a good kick in the face (after the baby is born safely of course). Sheesh. What's wrong with people? God forbid we not be able to smoke, drink or otherwise harm ourselves (no matter how small) while there's a CHILD growing inside. The NERVE!

Thanks for pre-judging people using your own faulty logic based on an opinion that is no better than the tissue paper that you wipe your ass with. I take it you're not female, because if you were, you'd know that pregnancy is not the most enjoyable time in a woman's life. My wife had a decent pregnancy, but stress due to work made it very, very difficult at times. If she hadn't eaten edibles during her pregnancy I'd venture to guess that I might be dead by now because she would have killed anyone in the vicinity.

Oh and our child is perfect. She's HUGE for her age, more intelligent than other children her age, and just a little angel. So if you want to kick us in the face for using cannabis while we were pregnant, why don't you come knock on my door and see what happens.

Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself.

Originally Posted by HCL

History has shown that many different civilizations used marijuana to help ease the pain from child birth during pregnancy.

And the reason why many people dismiss this is because it doesn't even give details. Remember how tobacco companies said nicotine isn't addictive and there's no link between cigarettes and cancer? Yeah, there are such things as bullshit articles and experiments/studies.

BINGO.

We did a LOT of research when we got pregnant, and while I tend to agree that no consumption is probably best, a small amount will NOT harm the child. In fact, it there's anecdotal evidence that it expands the child's mind and gives them a leg up on development, as strange as that may seem.

One of our friends smoked pot during her pregnancy, and her 12 year old is one of the most intelligent kids I've ever met, and I've known him for over half his life. His problem solving skills are extremely advanced for his age, and he's into all sorts of stuff that even I don't understand at three times his age (string theory, etc).


So I'll take this research for what it's worth, which is absolutely nothing without the data to back it up.

Plus BBC standards these days have gone in the tubes. Shit, they did a shows last year on breast size. This isn't the same BBC that set the gold standard for fair and accurate reporting. It's a tool for the British government to disseminate disinformation.

And Dr. Who and it's countless spin-offs (Not that that's a bad thing mind you).