.Marijuana-Smoking Mothers
in Jamaica Bear
Developmentally Superior
Babies One tragic ill effect of the illegal status of marijuana
is the difficulty it creates in performing scientific research into
marijuana's physical effects. As a woman, I feel particularly robbed
by the lack of studies into cannabis use during childbirth, to relieve
morning sickness associated with pregnancy, and for the pain and
discomfort of menstrual cramps and PMS. (Strong cannabis
tinctures have been used during labor since at least 2,000 B.C., and
even prudish Queen Victoria used it to relieve her menstrual
cramps.)
It has occurred to me that since many women suffer from severe
morning sickness while pregnant, and since cannabis is perhaps the
most effective anti-nauseant known, using the herb might allow
pregnant women to better nourish themselves possibly improving the
health of their children. Yet women in this country often cease
smoking marijuana when they become pregnant, because they do
not feel enough is known about what effects the herb may have on
their child.
Despite the prevalence of marijuana smoking among women of
child-bearing age, few behavioral studies have been performed to
date on babies whose mothers smoke, and these are conflicting and
inconclusive in their findings.* Studies have been plagued by
inconsistencies in measuring techniques and difficulty in controlling
possible confounding effects of factors that could lead to differences
in newborn behavior, such as multiple drug use, nutrition, age and
socioeconomic status. Furthermore, the illegal status of marijuana
makes self-reporting data suspect.
A March of Dimes sponsored study recently published in the journal
Pediatrics is remarkable in several ways and emphasizes the need
for further studies. The researchers were the first to use seven
supplementary items on the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale in

a study of the effects of in utero drug exposure, possibly measuring
for more subtle effects than previous studies. They conducted their
research in Jamaica, making theirs the first such study done outside
of the United States and Canada. The researchers noted that while
in the U.S. and Canada marijuana use is mainly recreational,
"scientific reports have documented the cultural integration of
marijuana and its ritual and medicinal as well as recreational
functions." The mothers studied were mainly the so-called "Roots
Daughters," a relatively new group described as women with a
purpose who can "think, reason and smoke like a man." Self-reliant
and dignified, many of these women smoke on a daily basis and
continue to do so during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
The study tested 24 Jamaican newborns exposed to marijuana
prenatally and 20 nonexposed babies from socioeconomically
matched mothers. The babies were compared when one day, three
days and one month old by a Harvard-trained examiner who was
unaware which babies had mothers who smoked.
The results at one day were thrown out because of differences in
birth times, and the researchers found no significant differences on
day three. At one month, the children of marijuana-using mothers
scored markedly higher on autonomic stability, reflexes, and general
irritability. Babies born to the heaviest smokers (those who smoked
every day, at least 21 joints weekly) scored significantly higher in 10
of the 14 characteristics measured, including quality of alertness,
robustness, regulatory capacity, and orientation.
Even accounting for factors such as a higher level of education and
more adults per child in the heavy-marijuana-smoking mothers'
cases, these results are highly significant. No ill effects from
marijuana were found, and quite possibly there were dose-related
positive effects. The researchers recognize the preliminary nature of
the study, but go so far as to speculate that, "It is possible ... that the

outcomes at one month are related to neonatal exposure to
marijuana constituents via breast milk.
Nineteen of the 24 Jamaican mothers reported that cannabis
increased their appetites throughout the prenatal period and/or
relieved the nausea of pregnancy. Fifteen reported using it to relieve
fatigue and provide rest during pregnancy. It is also possible that
these positive effects were responsible for their developmentally
superior babies.
It is significant that these superior children were born in an
atmosphere of acceptance and reverence for the herb.
Unfortunately, this is seldom the case in this country.
A law is on the books which would allow the Attorney General of
California to distribute confiscated marijuana to researchers, and this
step should be taken immediately. We must further demand an end
to the persecution of our people, so that we and our children may
flourish in an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding and peace.