cannabisnews.com: Exposure To Marijuana in Womb May Harm Brain Exposure To Marijuana in Womb May Harm Brain Posted by CN Staff on March 24, 2003 at 16:14:21 PT By Reuters Source: Reuters New York - A new study in rats suggests that prenatal exposure to marijuana may affect offsprings' behavior and memory, Italian researchers announced Monday. The findings reaffirm advice for pregnant women and lactating women to avoid marijuana use, according to one of the study's authors."We cannot say that findings in rats can be directly translated to humans," said Dr. Vincenzo Cuomo of the University "La Sapienza" Roma in Rome via e-mail. "But we know that animal studies can generate predictive information on various aspects of human brain function and could represent an essential step in the development of interventions to manage human diseases.""In this regard, our findings suggest that both pregnant and lactating women should avoid the use of marijuana," Cuomo said.The findings are published in the advance online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Although marijuana is one of the most widely used illegal drugs, studies of its effects on pregnant women and their offspring have had conflicting results, said Cuomo.This may be explained by possible impurities in the drug and by the use of tobacco along with marijuana, according to Cuomo. Rigorous studies on the effects of marijuana in pregnancy are relatively rare, Cuomo said.However, some researchers have for many years been following relatively large numbers of children whose mothers smoked marijuana during pregnancy, according to the Italian researcher. In general, their findings suggest that exposure to marijuana during pregnancy is related to later adverse effects on mental and motor development, Cuomo said.In the current study, Cuomo's team injected pregnant rats with a synthetic compound that is similar to a chemical found in marijuana. The daily dose in rats corresponded to the low-to-moderate dose people get when they smoke marijuana.Among the rats born to exposed mothers, the researchers identified memory and behavioral problems. The offspring of exposed mothers were hyperactive, though this difference in behavior was not long lasting. However, rats whose mothers had been exposed to the marijuana-like compound did have lasting memory problems, according to the report.The results of the study, Cuomo said, are in line with clinical data showing that the use of marijuana by women during pregnancy has negative consequences on the mental function and behavior of their children.Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Source: Reuters Health UKAuthor: Deborah ZabarenkoPublished: Monday, March 24, 2003Copyright: 2003 Reuters News ServiceWebsite: http://www.reuters.comContact: http://about.reuters.com/custhelp/Related Articles & Web Sites:Cannabis: Obstetrics & Gynecologyhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/russo-ob.pdfDr. Melanie Dreher, Reefer Researcherhttp://cannabisculture.com/articles/1404.htmlGanja Mothers, Ganja Babies http://cannabisculture.com/articles/1422.htmlNew Book on Women and Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15752.shtmlPot Pioneer - Ethan Russo M.D.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13060.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by sirreal on March 25, 2003 at 23:22:35 PT DUH! Why is it that these "Duh" type articles come out right before critical votes?What would a responsible pregnant woman be doing smoking anything anyway? [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by afterburner on March 25, 2003 at 19:16:15 PT: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome... is an acknowledged medical problem caused by mothers imbibing alcohol during pregnancy and causing their children hyperactivity and developmental problems. And yet, alcohol continues to be the legal drug of choice for social occasions in much of our culture. I know several people who suffer from this disabling syndrome.You don't hear the government calling for a return to Alcohol Prohibition. No, instead they demonize cannabis, saying things like, "Look at all the health problems caused by legal tobacco and alcohol: surely we don't need to add another 'drug' to the mix." They just don't or won't get it! ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by John Tyler on March 25, 2003 at 18:55:27 PT A variation of the big lie Sounds like more junk science. Give rats huge amounts of anything and cut them open to see what they look like inside, rat babies and all. Sounds kind of cruel to me. Remember the "crack babies" of the 1980's. There was a big media scare campaign etc., etc. They were born to poor mothers and needed care and attention like all babies. It was a big hoax. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by paulpeterson on March 25, 2003 at 08:15:01 PT Dr. Russo I left a detailed post under the BBC article posted "Cannabis affects babies in Womb" re: the sometimes negative effects of glutamates ie: "poisoning", misshapen protiens, etc. Just as an update, the Storm Lake, Iowa papers are starting to run my editorials, the local college won't get back to me about a "symposium" (surprise, surprise) and a 90 year old lady I know had a remarkable response to certain chemicals taken in a "tea form" she remarked within 20 minutes: "the fog is gone!" This same lady is now speaking with ministers and telling them that the "controversial" chemicals grown by a certain were the "tree of life" in the garden of Edens. Barb says hi.It looks like the new Illinois governor is hiding behind convention, even though Illinois has this world class law and for 32 years now. I'm still marching forward with my ethical appeal (oral arguments on 411). The federal judge on my constitutional challenge in court is trying to dodge the whole issue, by "staying" the proceeding until the Illinois Supreme Court gets done with me (by merely remaining silent on the motion to dismiss for FOUR MONTHS NOW. In other words, business as usual, especially now there is a war on. NICE WORK ON THE OBGYNY BOOK, I'm sure, from my review of your article on-line, and very timely with this fetus study. Also, thank you for your efforts in Montana, it was wonderful to see that Robin got to testify for that legislative effort, say hi to her for me, OK? PAUL [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Ethan Russo MD on March 25, 2003 at 06:55:30 PT: Chiming In This article is not yet online, so I cannot confirm whether the doses employed were physiologically appropriate or not.However, WIN55212-2 is not directly comparable to THC. THC is what is known as a "partial agonist," meaning that it, like the natural endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, binds weakly to cannabinoid receptors, and more to the ones in the central nervous system (CB1 receptors) than in the peripheral or lymph tissues (CB2 receptors).WIN55212-2, in contrast, is a much stronger cannabinoid agonist, meaning that it binds much more tightly to the endocannabinoid receptors. It is 7 times stronger in its binding to CB2, and could well affect immune function, which in turn, affects many other important systems in young developing animals.Any assumed analogy between this experiment with WIN55212-2 in rats, and the "real life" situation with herbal cannabis in women or their children is scientifically suspect and intellectually dishonest.For a review of the available literature on women and cannabis, please see: http://freedomtoexhale.com/russo-ob.pdf [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by freedom fighter on March 24, 2003 at 22:10:11 PT Never have and probably ever will meet a RAT that will remember my name..I think I smell me a Super Rat Race Scam going on!!ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on March 24, 2003 at 20:30:43 PT BGreen Hang in there. I can tell you are really feeling bad. It's hard these days and we are witnessing things we never thought we'd see. Pray for peace. I am. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on March 24, 2003 at 19:51:29 PT another experiment.... What do you think would happen if they injected caffeine and other coffeeniboids into pregnat rats? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by BGreen on March 24, 2003 at 19:39:06 PT My friends' son is in the gifted program in school in spite of both parents consuming massive quantities of the heavenly herb.This is bogus "research"The peaceful and sorrowful Rev. Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by JustGetnBy on March 24, 2003 at 18:41:34 PT Science???? How can this hit the main stream media when it contains such words as, MAY, COULD, UNCERTAIN, ETC ETC. It blows me away, that this could even make it into print. If this were Pro-Cannibis it would not even make the new's. Mean people SUCK...............Justgetnby [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by mayan on March 24, 2003 at 18:31:00 PT Similar? "In the current study, Cuomo's team injected pregnant rats with a synthetic compound that is similar to a chemical found in marijuana. The daily dose in rats corresponded to the low-to-moderate dose people get when they smoke marijuana."So they injected some pregnant rats with a synthetic compound that is "similar" to a chemical found in marijuana? WHAT?!? Are they kidding? All I can say is that if you are a pregnant rat, you should really think twice about injecting a synthetic compound "similar" to a chemical found in marijuana! Give me a break.Here comes revolution... A TERRIBLE DAY IN BUSH AND BLAIR'S TERRIBLE WAR: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12770610&method=full&siteid=50143A NO-WINNER - The first disastrous week of war foretells a dire future: http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.htmlRed carpets and orange alerts: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4632088,00.htmlMichael Moore Breaks the Ice: http://twincities.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=11407&group=webcastThe IRAQ BODY COUNT Database: http://www.iraqbodycount.net/bodycount.htmKaminski's Best 9/11 Sites — 4th Edition: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00024.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 24, 2003 at 17:57:46 PT Related Article from Nature.com Marijuana Alters Embryonic BrainRats exposed to cannabis in womb have learning and memory problems. March 25, 2003 Helen R. PilcherInfant rats exposed in to cannabis compounds in the womb have memory difficulties and are hyperactive, a study has found. The compounds seem to alter the animals' brain chemistry permanently.Similar changes may explain why some children whose mothers smoked marijuana while pregnant suffer attention problems later in life. "Pregnant and lactating women should avoid using marijuana," says one of the study team, Vincenzo Cuomo of the University La Sapienza in Rome. Cuomo and his colleagues gave rats a low daily dose of a synthetic cannabinoid for the last two weeks of their three-week pregnancy.Copyright: Nature News Service - Macmillan Magazines Ltd 2003 Complete Article: http://www.nature.com/nsu/030324/030324-2.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 24, 2003 at 17:41:59 PT Sober Stoner You know what would be nice? To have a forum to talk about how people see the war from a spiritual point of view. Maybe I just look at it that way often. Just throwing out an idea for you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by SoberStoner on March 24, 2003 at 17:21:27 PT Thanks FoM I know you are a busy person, so dont feel like you have to post, altho it would be appreciated. The war is on everyones mind, and I know you dont like discussion of that here, which is understandable, but if you need to blow off steam, feel free to drop in and let loose..I'm sure I'll be doing the sameI dont have anything up yet for the church itself, but that should hopefully be changing soon. The forums are far from complete, but I thought it was better to have them up now, and work on them as needed, than to keep them closed, as I dont know when, if ever, I'd be able to complete them to my liking (the curse of perfectionism)SS Free thought Forums [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 24, 2003 at 17:13:38 PT Sober Stoner That is really nice and thank you for making the forum to talk about Cannabis News. I will bookmark your link. I'll stop in and say hello. I'm a hard person to catch. I've been really in deep thought about the war. I keep my focus on CNews but when I don't have any new news I've been trying to absorb what this war is all about. Post the link on CNews and mention that you have it so people will stop in and comment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by SoberStoner on March 24, 2003 at 16:55:47 PT Meaningless noise "We cannot say that findings in rats can be directly translated to humans," said Dr. Vincenzo Cuomo That will be the line antis amazingly forget about as soon as they read it..if they even read it at all, they'll just throw the study out there and say, "look, we told you so!"Hello..ANY chemical can adversely affect a developing creature, no matter what that chemical or creature is. News flash..Shooting people can kill people too, so let's outlaw gunpowder!The only study I am awaiting results from is the one being conducted (i believe) in Cali, where the researchers tried twice to get approved and failed since they were looking for benefits from cannabis, yet get approved the third time when they propose looking for harmful side effects of cannabis on certain medications. I believe they honestly want to show how helpful cannabis can be in helping these people, yet the question will is, will it get lost in the noise too? Sadly..It probably willBTW, the link below is for the forums I have set up for personal use, but I have set aside a seperate forum for those that frequent here that wish to discuss other topics or dont want to clutter the threads with off topic discussion. FoM, I've tried to reach you, but have been unsuccessful. If for some reason you would like me to remove the forum or anything on it, just let me know.Peace and loveSS Free thought Forums [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on March 24, 2003 at 16:36:28 PT Here we go again Wow, I'm so glad this guy is off in some lab pumping pregant rats full of a man-made chemical! It will really improve the health of Americans, for sure! What a joke.Gee, it's too bad we couldn't do a study of actual mothers using cannabis while pregnant. In a place where they don't use tobacco, alcohol or other drugs. And somewhere where we could study the offspring and mothers for a long time period. Somewhere like, say, Jamaica would be perfect.Oh yeah, I forgot. We already have studies like that! IDIOTS! Maybe the people at Reuters should all get a bunch of rats as pets instead of raising children. SHAME on these people. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment