Surgeon General Warns Pregnant Women and Teens Against Marijuana Smoke

The US surgeon general publicly warned Thursday that smoking or spraying marijuana was dangerous for pregnant women and their developing babies.

At a press conference with other health officials from the administration, the general surgeon, Dr. Jerome Adams, said he was concerned that pregnant women, teens and others were unaware of the health risks of new, professionally grown marijuana crops.

Retailers have recommended the use of marijuana against morning sickness, says the opinion of the surgeon general. And doctors worry that T.H.C., the highly inducing chemical substance in marijuana, poses risks to the developing fetal brain and can be transmitted to infants through breast milk.

Dr. Adams described modern marijuana as much more potent than marijuana produced and sold 20 years ago, with T.H.C. from 4% at the time, from 12% to 25%.

Thirty-three states have legalized marijuana one way or another, whether for medical or recreational purposes. Dr. Adams stated that this rapid normalization of marijuana has created a false sense of safety in its use.

"The scary truth is that the potential for real harm has increased," he said. "It's not your mother's marijuana."

Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Social Services, along with the Surgeon General, said that although some state laws have changed, neither does federal law nor science .

"It's a dangerous drug," Azar said. "No amount of marijuana consumed during pregnancy or adolescence is safe."

According to the new notice, marijuana, or cannabis, is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. The opinion of the general surgeon indicates that its potentially harmful effects include memory and motor disorders. The more powerful new strains, he continued, pose other risks, including anxiety, agitation, paranoia and psychosis.