A study was done in rural Jamaica, to identify neurobehavioral effects on unborn babies, exposed to Cannabis in the womb. This study was supported by The March of Dimes and later received funding from The National Institute on Drug Abuse, to further study the effects on the children, up to the age of 5.
Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN and team conducted the study. Initially there were two groups of participants: 24 Cannabis consuming expectant moms, and twenty expectant moms who did not consume Cannabis, and their babies. The expectant moms from both groups, were matched for having the same quality of prenatal care, as well as nutrition.
The new born babies from both groups were compared using the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale , which included supplementary items to capture subtle effects.
The new born babies were observed three times during their first month.
Day one assessments were omitted from the study due to unreliable data. At 3 days, there were no measurable differences between the babies from the two groups. At one month, the babies who were exposed to Cannabis in the womb showed better physiological stability.
The newborns of Cannabis using mothers had better scores on autonomic stability, quality of alertness, irritability, and self-regulation. They were judged to be more rewarding for caregivers.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8121737/
The McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities was used to test the children at the age of 4 and again at 5. Data was collected about each child’s temperament and home environment. The results showed no significant differences in developmental testing outcomes between children of Cannabis-using and non-using expectant mothers, except at 30 days.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1957518/
The team who conducted these studies wanted to further their research on identifying neurobehavioral effects on the children who were exposed to Cannabis before birth. Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN sought out additional funding from The US Federal Government, to further study the same children from age 5 through 10 years.
The request for funding a proposed extension of the study, was denied by the NIDA, based upon the results not being as expected, nor the results that Congress wanted.
Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN is often referred to as The Reefer Researcher. She has conducted many Cannabis studies in Jamaica objectively.
Despite her impeccable credentials and a wealth of information on Cannabis use, after Dreher released reports showing that children of Cannabis consuming mothers showed better physiological stability than children born to mothers who did not consume Cannabis, she encountered professional and political problems.
Some have accused the government and anti-Cannabis groups of working to suppress her objective, science based findings. Dreher continues to speak openly about her research and political obstacles that were put in place in regards to her Cannabis research.
Written by Kerry Cannon exclusively for CannabisActivismNow.com