Premature births linked to cannabis

The danger of giving birth prematurely is twice as likely among first-time mothers who smoke cannabis prior to getting pregnant, a new study has found.

The risk rises significantly among women who continue to use marijuana throughout their pregnancies: They are five times more likely to give birth ahead of time.

The fact that some women smoke cannabis in pregnancy, often in an effort to quell morning sickness, is of grave concern, given the consequences for baby of pre-term birth, the study’s lead investigator, Cork-based Louise Kenny, has warned.