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Marijuana has been making headlines for a long time now, but the increasing use of cannabis among parents is a relatively new phenomenon. As more and more moms opt to use marijuana, it’s essential to understand all the pros and cons of using cannabis as a parent.
This article will explore how moms are using marijuana to deal with their busy lives and learn about the potential risks they might face while doing so.
The Challenging Life of a Mom
The life of a mom is hard. It’s busy, stressful, and tiring. Moms spend their days running around town, doing everything they can to ensure their kids are safe, happy, and healthy. They have a lot of responsibility, and that pressure doesn’t go away when you’re not raising your children anymore.
This can be especially true for moms who have been through divorce or separation. In addition to all the regular stresses of parenthood, these women often feel like they have extra weight on their shoulders because they must also take care of themselves so they can continue providing financially for their family members while caring for them emotionally.
The Increasing Use of Cannabis Among Moms
The number of women using cannabis has increased, and the number of women using cannabis during pregnancy has also risen. A study published in JAMA Network Journal found that between 2002 and 2014, the rate of marijuana use among pregnant women increased from 2.37% to 3.85%.
Research on this topic is still new and evolving. However, more and more parents are certainly taking marijuana. While consuming cannabis during pregnancy can be dangerous, it can be helpful for recreation once you are a mom and are no longer breastfeeding your baby.
If you choose to use medical marijuana, the first thing you need is to get a WV Medical Marijuana Card so you can use it legally.
The Benefits of Using Marijuana for Moms
Marijuana has been shown to help with several ailments, including:
- Sleep problems: Marijuana can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer than you would if you didn’t use it. This may not be true in some cases, especially for regular users. But people with certain conditions, such as chronic pain, will undoubtedly see benefits.
- Stress and anxiety relief: Another benefit of consuming marijuana is that it may reduce stress levels by increasing serotonin levels in your brain. Serotonin is the “happy hormone,” which plays a vital role in regulating moods. Low levels can lead to anxiety disorders like depression or PTSD.
If you are a parent, smoking marijuana can help you with these. But more importantly, smoking marijuana as a parent gets you much-needed relaxation, especially for moms. Moms usually have to look after their children, which can be tedious. Taking cannabis allows you to relax for a small amount of time, giving you the energy required to take care of your children.
Besides this, there are many other benefits of using marijuana as a mom.
For Recreational Purpose
Recreational use of marijuana is legal in many states, including California and Colorado. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using recreational cannabis due to its potential effects on the developing fetus or newborn child.
If you’re considering using recreational cannabis during your pregnancy or while breastfeeding, you must discuss this with your doctor first. They will be able to help assess whether it’s safe for you based on your risk factors, including age, history of drug use, current medications, personal habits, family history of mental illness, etc.
To Mitigate Pain and Stress
When it comes to pain management, cannabis can be a natural anti-inflammatory. Cannabis is a natural pain reliever that can be used to treat chronic pain and other medical conditions. A recent study published in the Scientific Research journal shows that medical marijuana can reduce pain by 50%.
Cannabis relieves pain without the side effects of prescription drugs like opioids or benzodiazepines. While some parents may still be hesitant about using marijuana as a treatment for their children’s symptoms, others have found success with its use as an alternative option when traditional medicine fails them.
To Enhance Patience
The great thing about marijuana is that it can help you be more patient. When you’re high, time slows down, and each moment feels like it lasts forever. This can be helpful when dealing with kids trying to get their way or your partner who’s been on their phone for hours.
If you want to learn how to use marijuana as a tool for increasing patience in daily life, here are some tips:
- Try smoking before bedtime so that when your kid wakes up at 4 am asking for breakfast, their demands don’t seem so urgent or annoying.
- Use edibles before an important meeting or date where you need composure and calmness under pressure, like when going through airport security.
Should Moms-to-Be Consume Cannabis During Pregnancy?
If you’re a mom-to-be, it’s essential to know that marijuana use during pregnancy can cause problems with fetal development. There isn’t enough scientific evidence yet to determine the exact effects on children whose mothers used marijuana.
Based on a study published on the NCBI website, even women of reproductive age are consuming marijuana. At least 9.9% of women of reproductive age have been known to take marijuana.
No amount of marijuana is safe for pregnant women or their babies, and if you’re thinking about using marijuana while breastfeeding, be aware that THC passes into breast milk and may affect your child’s brain development if he or she ingests it in large amounts over time.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has fixed a standard dose of 5mg. However, it is not a recommendation, as the safe dose is not certain and differs from one product to another.
There is a lot that scientists don’t know about marijuana use during pregnancy. The research on marijuana and pregnancy is still in its infancy, as cannabis has only been legal in many states for a few years.
The studies that have been done reveal some concerning findings:
- Marijuana use during pregnancy can cause harm to the baby. Some of these effects include premature birth, low birth weight, and an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In addition, infants exposed to cannabis in utero may experience learning difficulties later on in life, especially if exposed before 18 months old.
- Pregnant women should avoid using cannabis because there is no scientific evidence that it’s safe during this period. In fact, there are some pieces of evidence pointing toward the harmful effects. A study done over seven years shows that the rate of infant death in the first year of life can be directly correlated to the cannabis use disorder diagnosis of the mother. It stands at 1%, according to the study.
Conclusion
The marijuana industry is a growing market, and it’s clear that moms are taking advantage of this opportunity. While cannabis use is harmful to pregnant women, those who have already given birth to their children and are not breastfeeding them anymore can consume it without worry.
In fact, research has shown that marijuana can be beneficial for moms because it helps relieve stress and pain without causing any adverse side effects on growth or development.
