cannabisnews.com: Cannabis 'Affects Babies in Womb'





Cannabis 'Affects Babies in Womb'
Posted by CN Staff on March 24, 2003 at 18:34:57 PT
An extract of cannabis was used in the research 
Source: BBC News 
Exposure to a cannabis in the womb could cause children to experience learning difficulties and hyperactivity, researchers suggest. Research was carried out on rats using a cannabinoid, a cannabis extract. Cannabis is the most widely used drug by women at reproductive age. Previous research has shown that babies born to mothers who took cannabis while they were pregnant go on to experience problems with physical activity.
 Cannabinoids can be transferred from the mother to the offspring through the placental blood -- Professor Vincenzo Cuomo In this latest study, researchers injected pregnant rats each day with a quantity of the cannabinoid equivalent to a low to moderate daily dose in humans. They then compared the baby rats' development with that of a group of rats born to mothers who had not been given the cannabinoid. The Italian research team said studies on rats could provide more conclusive results than human tests, where findings could be complicated by factors such as impure drugs and cigarette smoking. Lower scores  Each group of rats were given tests to assess their memory and motor activity. They were examined as infants (12-days-old), juvenile (40-days-old) and adult (80-days-old). When the rats were young, those exposed to the cannabinoid were significantly more hyperactive than the other group, though this difference disappeared by adulthood. But the cannabinoid rats scored lower on learning tests throughout their lives. The researchers, from the University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Italy, used an artificial cannabinoid called WIN in their study. Post-mortem examinations of the rats brains were carried out. They found that exposure to WIN in the womb disrupted the release of a neurotransmitter called glutamate which transmits nerve impulses between brain cells. It also affected a process called long-term potentiation, electrical activity in the brain associated with learning and the formation of memory. It is believed the effect on glutamate production led to the problems in forming memories in the hippocampus area of the brain. Consistent Researcher Professor Vincenzo Cuomo told BBC News Online: "We cannot say the findings in rats can be directly translated to humans, but we know that animal studies can generate predictive information on various aspects of human brain function." Brain receptors which trigger the behavioural effects of cannabis have been found to be present in rat brains during prenatal development. Professor Cuomo added: "Cannabinoids can be transferred from the mother to the offspring through the placental blood during the gestation both in humans and in rodents. "In addition, as for tobacco smokers, a daily use of marijuana exposes the foetus to carcinogens produced by burning marijuana and carbon monoxide which has been shown to affect the health of the foetus." Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the researchers said the findings were in line with previous studies indicating cannabis taken during pregnancy affected the cognitive development of the unborn child, particularly memory. They added: "Moreover, the increased motor activity observed in both infant and juvenile offspring of WIN-treated dams [mother rats] is consistent with data showing that children prenatally exposed to marijuana were rated, at a puberty age, as hyperactive, inattentive, and particularly impulsive."Source: BBC News (UK Web) Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2003Copyright: 2003 BBC Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/Related Articles & Web Sites:Medicinal Cannabis Research Foundationhttp://www.helpcannabisresearch.org/Cannabis: Obstetrics & Gynecologyhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/russo-ob.pdfExposure To Marijuana in Womb May Harm Brain http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15788.shtmlNew Book on Women and Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15752.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by paulpeterson on March 25, 2003 at 07:30:50 PT
DR. RUSSO
Does this study (about the negative effect on the disruption of glutamate release) help us to understand 1) how cannabis products can help people with PTSD & phobias to lose "perseveration", etc. ie: by some glutamate mechanism? & 2) how pot products can also avoid "glutamate" poisoning of brain cells (glutamate becomes therefore an "excitotoxin" under some circumstances?), Les Grinspoon has long noted that marijuana products "purge" glutamates from the brain by acting as an "anti-oxidant" & 3)just how does one differentiate between "bad" glutamates & "good" glatamates (if there is some difference ie: I have seen evidence that some toxins such as pesticides actually cause proteins to "fold" the wrong way, making otherwise harmless proteins deadly to brain cells, perhaps like for "Amyloid Beta" particles that are severed from the brain cells at the wrong "junction" by Beta & Gamma secretes's (or the like). Please forgive me if this sounds all TOO jumbled and complicated, but this groundbreaking study result(s) seems to point the way to potentially PRODUCTIVE PROOF of the efficacy of marijuana products to HELP in more ways than they are intended to be shown to HURT people, eh? PAUL PETERSON
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Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo MD on March 25, 2003 at 06:56:38 PT:
Reprise
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
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 24, 2003 at 22:26:35 PT
Virgil
That sounds like a good idea for Pot-TV. You're poodle put your computer to sleep? Now if that ain't something! I'm about done to for the day. I stayed up way to late last night to hear what Hussein had to say and fell asleep in the middle of it all. Gotta gets some rest too!
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Comment #2 posted by Virgil on March 24, 2003 at 22:19:10 PT
Comment1 is February's news
I was wanting to put something up at Cnews to keep the hempcity.com link up and I wanted to ask Nol Van Schaik a question. Now I am ready to call it a night as my poodle put my computer to sleep as I was thyping on the bed.Anyway, the fragile coalition in Holland is being torn over the Iraq situation. The Social Democrats in the UK that are the third largest party are gaining because of Iraq and they are for legalization of cannabis. I will offer Expatica as a website worthy of a bookmark and suggest this article worth reading concerning the Holland situation- http://www.expatica.com/index.asp?pad=2,18,&item_id=29873The hempcity.com website is growing in registrations by about 1 a day is now up to 65, and if you ask a reasonable question Nol would probably answer. I am through for the night, It was on my mind that Nol would make a great guest for pot-tv while Steve is absent. Anyway, Nol is the second person listed when you hit the membership link at the top of the forum page and Michelle Kubby reads this website, so if it happens it happens. I think Nol would be an interesting personality on any interview show. Too bad Donahue didn't give us a chance to hear from Nol. Oh well, time to punch out.
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on March 24, 2003 at 21:48:10 PT
Nuts want to reduce coffeeshops in Holland
Nol Van Schaik posted the following in the first frame of this thread and a scanned copy in the second frame of this thread at hempcity.com- http://www.hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68&highlight=Donner wants hard line on softdrugs ‘Neighbourhoods in hands weed gangs’ By: Ap van den Berg and Ferdi Schooten The Hague/GPD- Justice Minister Donner (CDA) wants to tighten the tolerance policy for softdrugs and bring it in line with European legislation. A confidential report shows he wants ‘a sharp decrease in the number of coffeeshops’. Donner also wants to discourage druguse and homegrowing. It has been confirmed by reliable sources around the minister. If it was up to Donner, he will start a major offensive against illegal hemp plantations. It happens more often that criminal gangs use houses and basements in the poorer neighbourhoods, as it states in not yet published research of criminologist Prof. Dr. Frank Bovenkerk. According to Bovenkerk, the results from his report will be used ‘to reconsider the softdrugs policy critically’. 
The criminologist states there are 20 neighbourhoods, spread over the whole off the Netherlands, controlled by weed gangsters. 
Around 60 % of the crop is exported to foreign countries. The police usually only manages to catch the growers, mainly mothers on benefits, junks and people in great debts. The gangs, who supply for the necessary equipment, the plants, the utilities and the clipping, always escape from prosecution. The Minister will offer his suggestions to the Parliament on short notice. Because Donner is also the informer for the new government’s formation, his prerogatives will come to order during the formation of the Cabinet. 
The PvdA (The CDA’s only coalition partner) does not feel anything for a hard line on softdrugs. This party thinks the police can use its energy way better for catching crooks. 
The CDA, however, fears that smoking a joint will sooner lead to a transfer to hard drugs. The number of coffeeshops has already decreased noticeably over the last 5 years. At present, our country counts a little under 800 cannabis outlets (806,nvs) for marihuana and weed?, compared to around 1500 in 1998. The main loss of coffeeshops occurred in the big cities. 
But, according to Donner, another 400 coffeeshops will have to be closed within a year, minimum. In fact, Municipalities can decide over the softdrugs policy independently. 
By tightening the current policy, Donner wants to force municipalities in to complying. By bringing the Dutch softdrugs policy more in line with the stance of the EU member states, Donner hopes to make good agreements about the smuggling of humans, terrorism protection and asylum policy. 
“Some countries, amongst whom France, do not keep themselves to these agreements because of the Dutch softdrugs policy”, said a spokesman. Source: Haarlems Dagblad, 26 Februari 2003.
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