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Marijuana Use In Pregnant Mothers Studied At CU Anschutz

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- Researchers in Aurora will study marijuana use in pregnant mothers. Colorado is one of very few states where researchers can legally conduct the study.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are studying effects that pot use has on pregnant women and their unborn babies.

CU Anschutz said although physicians tell women they should not use marijuana in pregnancy, it is difficult to provide them with data to support the recommendation. They believe the need for data-supported information grows as marijuana laws change in the U.S.

The Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute awarded a grant to Assistant Professor Dr. Torri Metz to develop a questionnaire for new mothers about marijuana use during their pregnancy.

Metz also provides care for pregnant mothers and delivers babies at the University of Colorado Hospital.

"If you look at the literature now, you find very mixed results," Metz said in a statement. "About half of the studies say there is an association between marijuana use and adverse outcomes; about half say there is no association."

After the mothers who took the survey give birth a sample of the umbilical cord will be taken. Researchers hope the results will give them more information on the link between marijuana use and fetal growth restriction, hypertension in pregnant mothers, stillbirth, spontaneous preterm birth among other conditions.

"These are the obstetric issues we face every day and we don't understand the impact of marijuana use on these outcomes," Metz said in a statement. "I want to change that."

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