MMJ: Legal Model and Medical Literature

Hey I hear Oregon has legal recreational marijuana. How does it work? - Jefferson Stater

So far, so good. As of July 1, people over 21 are allowed to possess and use marijuana recreationally! Woo hoo! Not only that, but the state is expected to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to sell cannabis to recreational users in October. While the legislators are working out the rules creating rec cannabis facilities, people will be able to buy cannabis at their local medical cannabis dispensary. Did I mention that the cannabis will be TAX-FREE?

Oregon weed has no sales tax! At least until 2016 when the new rules kick in and folks will have to pay 17-20 percent. Wow. Oregon is so cool and smart.

These are the basics: Oregonians can grow up to four marijuana plants, possess up to 8 ounces at home, 1 ounce in public, and can give someone up to 1 ounce of cannabis without any penalties. This is all awesome. I hope people in California are taking a good look at how Oregon is handling its business. Better than Washington, and even better than Colorado. California can be better than all of them if we can get our shit together.

In response to Ngaio Bealum’s answer to a question about smoking cannabis before or during pregnancy, I have to comment. A recent review of the literature summed up the following concerns about marijuana: a 6-7 times increase in cannabis potency over the last several decades, an association with infertility, placental complications, and fetal growth restriction, as well as, long term neurobehavioral effects (poorer executive functioning, conduct and behavioral problems and poorer school achievement). Smoking marijuana results in five times greater carbon monoxide exposure compared to tobacco! The developing human brain is much more sensitive than the adult brain. There is an exquisite orchestration of nerve development, growth, migration and communication that is easily derailed when exposed to toxic chemicals or even high levels of substances for which there are natural receptors. - Joanne L. Perron, MD, MPH

I looked at the studies you cited. The problem I am having is that most of the studies you cite deal with children exposed to marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. Can you point me to a study that says cannabis by itself is harmful to fetuses?