Should the medical industry research effects of 'pot', before they blame everything on it?

Question

I feel not enough research is done into this...i smoked all the way through 3 pregnancies, 2 of my kids are perfectly fine, and my last child has autism...of course they're blaming the 'pot', but my arguement is....why did it not affect the others? I personally think drs are too quick to judge without knowing what they're actually talking about?

Answer 1

I wouldnt have put it down the pot smoking personally, i work with autistic children ... u know u are gonna get soooo many put downs for this one ... I hope everything all works out for your son tho... good luck ...

Answer 2

I suppose doctors are quick to blame something like this on pot because not enough research has been done, after all I can't see it being easy to gain enough research in the matter.

You shouldn't be so quick though in thinking that they are wrong, it sounds like you're in denial. You may have to come to terms with the fact that smoking pot through out your pregnancy may well have contributed to your childs autism. As for your other children having not been effected, how old are they?? It might be that they suffer with depression further along down the line in which you smoking pot can definitely be a factor, you just don't know what can arise at any moment.

Do you still smoke around them? Have you tried to stop?

Answer 3

People please remeber that when you are pregnant there is another life inside of you!! There is no definte answer for smoking popt or cigs during pregnancy, it can't be absolutley proven that either of these things harm your child, but it can also not been proven that they HELP your child in any way. Why take the chance? But that is beside the point you know have a child with autism wether its from the pot or not, you need to do some research and find the best pediatrician who is not going to base your childs care on wether or not pot caused it. The early treatment is given to a child with autism the more functionable they will be in later years. Just so you know the facts look up the odds on a child being born with autism in the United States; 1in 105 births results in autism. I don't think that they are all attributed to pot, but lets not take the chance with our children. Also unless you are growing the pot yourself you have no idea what they may have put in or fertilized it with. My suggestion is if you are going to smoke it you need to grow it.!

Answer 4

My brother and his wife both smoked marijuana while she was pregnant with the first and second child. Because both children had learning difficulties and psychological attachment problems they both felt guilt and much sorrow and both stopped marijuana. They, themselves, are the ones that felt the "pot" was a factor. Also, both are college graduates, he in computer science, and she in education. Both are public education teachers holding Master Degrees. They didn't do any harder drugs or alcohol so that was not an issue in the big picture. Years later, a third child was born. That child didn't have and learning difficulties and is a socialable young man. All three children are adults with the youngest I mentioned being 21-years old now. The oldest still has problems and struggles everyday. The second seemed less affected and went on to college. The third and last is in the Air Force currently. My bottom line to your question is.... Yes, I think it may have played a role in my two nephews and niece. It is a tough call to make but I truly believe there was a strong connection.
Also, the quality of the marijuana and what it may or may not have had in it beyond plain or "clean" marijuana is a factor. Marijuana is often times "cut" with other drugs. Hashish is a common additive much to many users surprise.

Answer 5

You are right...doctors accuse any malfunction on pot. If your child had come out with six toes, then it's pot's fault. Or if they'd come out deaf, it's pot's fault. It does get ridiculous. I've heard doctors claim knowledge of pot's effects when it was so obvious that they knew nothing about it. (For example, a doctor was once telling me about how pot makes you hallucinate. Haha)

I live in a place called Stone County....a lot of people call it "Stoned County" b/c of the abundant use of pot here. Needless to say, I know dozens of women who've smoked through they're pregnancies and all had normal children. It's not right to blame any defect on you smoking...you could have not smoked and had a very stressful pregnancy and still had an autistic baby.

Don't buy into the hype...they're just trying to drag you down b/c they don't understand it. There hasn't been enough medical research to advocate blaming you for the autism. It's just not right.

Answer 6

No-one can blame pot for autism!! That's just not right. Some people are just sadly unfortunate with their children ending up with autism, you have my sympathy but I know someone who smokes pot and their child has autism, the child couldn't be happier and nicer!! No-one blamed smoking pot for that. Don't let it get you down, your child can still have a normal life. Ive seen it happen!
As for research, the only bad thing I see about smoking pot is that it gets people depressed, lose their libido and have really bad mood swings when not on it. It does seem to age them too. Using it for medical purposes have my vote.
I'm not saying that smoking anything or taking drugs of any kind should be excused esp since you were pregnant. Ok you should have thought of the baby's health first. But your question is 'is pot to blame'.
Ignore your Docs tell them you just want help and support to bring up your child because you are entitled to it.

Answer 7

well, i think it is a very irresponsible thing to smoke pot during pregnancy, just like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. like your kids, some may be perfectly healthy, but some may not, so why take the chance? thats one thing that makes me really mad is to see pregnant women smoking or drinking, it's just selfish and stupid to take that chance with a poor unborn child. and like you said, if you think not enough research has been done, why would you want to do something that you dont know what the effect is going to be?

i was a pot smoker myself and quit when we decided to start trying to have a baby. i am now 30 weeks pregnant and my husband and i have both not smoked since july 2006.

Answer 8

i happen to know a family where the mother is an alcoholic. Out of the 4 children, 2 were premature, and one was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. The mom drank through all of her pregnancies, but only the second child has FAS. Sometimes, it affects the kids, sometimes it doesnt show.

Why would you take that risk with your children??? Do you realize that if you are smoking through your pregnancies you are risking the children already born by neglecting them? And do not tell me that you didnt do it around them, because even if you didnt, you are impaired for a period of time following your smoking session. You can't care for your children if you are impaired. Stop having kids and take care of the ones you have.

Answer 9

We are doing quite a lot of work on it, we are seeing more and more people with quite serious mental health problems from usage.

With regard to your children, you don't know what the long term effects are going to be, they may develop problems in later life, I hope I am wrong.

But there is a lot of evidence to show that it is not safe, look at Bob Marley his Brain was riddled with tumours all cancerous.

Look at E's everyone said they are very safe, now we are treating lots of users for serious depression.

Smoking causes low birth weight in some babies that's a fact, you my be lucky but is it worth risking your child's future health for you own pleasure.

My personal opinion is that most drug addicts are selfish, you have just confirmed my opinion.

By all means go ahead and damage your own Brain but you children have no say in the matter, you are gambling with their future mental health.

Answer 10

Some are effected others are not. The chemicals in pot and other substances that are abused, build up in your system over time.

There are many factors that can lead to one child being effected and the other not. Not every child is effected, but such a large number are, that all drugs and cigarettes, and even OTC medications have been deemed hazardous and detrimental to the unborn.

Low birth weight, poor neurological development inutero and premature birth have all been proven to cause autisim in children. While the pot itself might not have effected the child, its effects on your body are enough to cause a chain of events that harms the baby.

You have certainly shown yourself to be a very selfish woman indeed, risking the welfare and long term health of your children simply so you can continue on with an addiction.

I pity your babies.

Answer 11

silly medical industry - why didn't they listen to an idiot like you rather than all those stupid doctors etc???
stop trying to justify your actions by blaming others. drug taking and drinking during pregnancy is dangerous. you are at risk of doing long term damage to your children. you mentioned that baby no.3 was placed in the special care baby unit - they don't do this for autism so there were obviously problems from birth - autism is only detected later.
you are living in a fantasy world. grow up and start taking responsibility for your actions.