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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) has issued decisive new clinical guidance declaring there is no safe level of marijuana during pregnancy and recommending universal screening for cannabis use throughout pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum periods.
The authoritative medical organisation’s statement directly challenges the increasingly prevalent misconception that cannabis represents a safe or beneficial option for expectant mothers, citing substantial evidence linking marijuana use to serious maternal and neonatal health risks.
Clear Medical Consensus on Pregnancy Cannabis Risks:
ACOG’s new clinical consensus addresses a troubling public health trend head-on. The organisation’s statement explains: “Despite the fact that cannabis use in pregnancy has been associated with spontaneous preterm birth, low birth weight, NICU admissions, and postnatal neurocognitive and behavioural dysfunction, there is a misperception in the general public that cannabis is safe for use during pregnancy due to its increasing availability, legalisation, and social acceptability.”
The guidance represents a significant intervention by one of the most respected medical bodies in obstetrics, joining numerous other expert organisations in warning against cannabis use during this critical period.
No Therapeutic Justification for Cannabis Use:
Perhaps most significantly, ACOG explicitly rejects claims that marijuana during pregnancy serves any legitimate medical purpose. The organisation states unequivocally: “There is no medical indication for cannabis use during pregnancy and the postpartum period.”
This position directly contradicts marketing narratives suggesting cannabis can safely address conditions including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain, as well as pregnancy-related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. The medical consensus from this non-partisan, highly credentialed field could not be clearer: pregnant cannabis use offers no therapeutic benefit whilst carrying substantial risks. (for complete Research WRD News)
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Cannabis (THC) edibles negatively impact safe driving. Impairment is real, detection is difficult. Simply putting 'Medicinal' in front of the word ‘Cannabis' does not reduce impairment or subsequent potential harms of a vehicle, effectively, weaponised by this psychotropic toxin.
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This document addresses three of the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) 2025 consultation questions:
1. Contraindications for medical cannabis – see Appendix A
2. Claims for medical cannabis not supported by rigorous science - See Appendix B
3. Lack of quality assurance in the production of medicinal cannabis - See Appendix C
Cannabis impacts female fertility as evidenced by an in vitro investigation and a case-control study
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Abstract: Cannabis consumption and legalization is increasing globally, raising concerns about its impact on fertility. In humans, we previously demonstrated that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites reach the ovarian follicle. An extensive body of literature describes THC’s impact on sperm, however no such studies have determined its effects on the oocyte. Herein, we investigate the impact of THC on human female fertility through both a clinical and in vitro analysis. In a case-control study, we show that follicular fluid THC concentration is positively correlated with oocyte maturation and THC-positive patients exhibit significantly lower embryo euploid rates than their matched controls. In vitro, we observe a similar, but non-significant, increased oocyte maturation rate following THC exposure and altered expression of key genes implicated in extracellular matrix remodelling, inflammation, and chromosome segregation. Furthermore, THC induces oocyte chromosome segregation errors and increases abnormal spindle morphology. Finally, this study highlights potential risks associated with cannabis use for female fertility (Research: Cannabis impacts female fertility as evidenced by an in vitro investigation and a case-control study | Nature Communications
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A Groundbreaking Genetic Discovery
As cannabis legalisation spreads globally, its growing acceptance as a recreational and medicinal substance has sparked both enthusiasm and concern. A landmark genetic study has uncovered critical genetic links cannabis disorder, showing how cannabis use disorder (CanUD)—defined by compulsive use despite harmful consequences—shares significant genetic overlap with psychiatric conditions. Unlike casual use, which may pose minimal risks for some, CanUD’s genetic ties cannabis addiction amplify mental health vulnerabilities, challenging perceptions of cannabis as universally safe.
Casual Use vs. Cannabis Use Disorder
Cannabis’s relaxing or therapeutic effects are well-documented, but for some, use escalates into cannabis use disorder, affecting over 16 million people annually in the US alone. The study highlights a clear genetic distinction between occasional use and CanUD. While casual use shows weak associations with psychiatric issues, genetic links cannabis disorder reveal strong connections to disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. This underscores the need to differentiate between responsible use and problematic patterns.
Uncovering Shared Genetic Pathways
Using advanced techniques like global genetic correlation, colocalization, and structural equation modelling, researchers identified specific genetic variants driving genetic ties cannabis addiction. Variants near the CHRNA2 gene, which regulates nicotinic receptors in the brain, were implicated in both CanUD and schizophrenia. These shared pathways suggest that the biological mechanisms behind cannabis addiction may also fuel psychiatric disorders, creating a complex interplay. Other genetic regions linked to addiction-related brain functions further explain why some individuals face heightened risks.
A Bidirectional Risk Cycle
Through Mendelian randomisation—a method using genetic variants to infer causality—the study revealed a troubling two-way relationship. Genetic links cannabis disorder show that CanUD increases risks for schizophrenia, depression, ADHD, and PTSD, while these conditions heighten CanUD likelihood, possibly as self-medication that worsens underlying issues. Casual cannabis use, by contrast, showed minimal causal effects, except for a slight ADHD link, reinforcing that genetic ties cannabis addiction are far more consequential.
Personality Traits and Genetic Susceptibility
Beyond psychiatric disorders, genetic links cannabis disorder extend to personality traits like neuroticism (emotional instability) and low agreeableness (lack of cooperativeness), unlike casual use. Notably, while cannabis use was linked to anorexia nervosa—likely due to appetite stimulation—CanUD showed no such association, suggesting that genetic ties cannabis addiction involve distinct biological mechanisms unrelated to body weight regulation.
Public Health: A Growing Concern
With cannabis legalisation expanding worldwide, these genetic links cannabis disorder demand urgent attention. The dose-dependent risks of CanUD indicate that heavy, prolonged use amplifies genetic vulnerabilities to mental illness, particularly for those with family histories of psychiatric disorders. Public health efforts should focus on education and early intervention to prevent escalation to cannabis addiction, ensuring societal acceptance of cannabis doesn’t overlook its risks.
Shaping Policy and Clinical Practice
Policymakers must balance cannabis’s potential benefits with its risks. The genetic ties cannabis addiction suggest that endorsing cannabis as a blanket treatment for conditions like PTSD or depression may be premature, given CanUD’s potential to exacerbate these disorders. Clinicians should screen for genetic links cannabis disorder in patients with psychiatric symptoms and monitor for compulsive cannabis use in those with mental health diagnoses, disrupting the harmful cycle between CanUD and mental illness.
Towards Personalised Prevention
The discovery of genetic links cannabis disorder paves the way for personalised medicine. Genetic screening could identify individuals at higher risk for CanUD, enabling targeted counselling to prevent heavy use. Therapies targeting shared genetic pathways, such as those involving nicotinic receptors, could address both cannabis addiction and co-occurring mental health issues, offering a dual-treatment approach.
A Call for Informed Choices
This study doesn’t condemn cannabis outright but highlights the dangers of genetic ties cannabis addiction. Responsible use may carry low risks for many, but progression to CanUD can unleash a cascade of genetic vulnerabilities, worsening mental health. As cannabis use rises globally, public education must promote informed decision-making and vigilance against compulsive patterns to safeguard wellbeing.
(Source: Neuroscience News.com)