A study by the American Medical Association (AMA) has found that discontinuing marijuana testing in pregnant women has improved racial parity without causing harm to newborns. As more than two dozen states now allow recreational marijuana use for eligible adults, tens of millions of people have easy access to the drug.
Cannabis testing has become an increasingly divisive issue in the U.S. over the past several years, particularly concerning pregnancy. Given the history of disproportionate cannabis-related policing in minority communities, many advocates have expressed concerns that targeted marijuana testing of pregnant women could have negative consequences.
The recent AMA study found evidence that marijuana testing in pregnant women does not lead to beneficial health outcomes. Researchers from Washington University found that when medical institutions stopped testing for cannabis, racial disparities significantly decreased among pregnant women subjected to drug tests and reported to Child Protective Services (CPS).
Despite the absence of cannabis screening, physicians still identified cases of dangerous non-prescription drug use, according to the study. Additionally, eliminating marijuana testing during pregnancy had no measurable impact on newborn health. Researchers concluded that removing cannabis tests from prenatal screenings improved fairness in the healthcare system without negatively affecting mothers or their babies.
The federally funded study was published in JAMA Network Open. According to the report, physicians often use urine drug screenings to tailor prenatal care for different patients. In some states, doctors are legally required to report positive test results for federally controlled substances to CPS.
The research team suggests that the drawbacks of testing pregnant women for cannabis often outweigh any potential benefits. The report highlights that Black patients are significantly more likely than White patients to undergo peripartum urine drug screening (UDS) and be reported to CPS.
Due to this bias and the potential consequences of a CPS report, some Black patients avoid seeking medical care during pregnancy, increasing health risks and exacerbating existing racial disparities in maternal healthcare. For many Black pregnant women, mandated reports to CPS remain one of their greatest fears, the study notes.
Following a recent policy change that eliminated UDS testing and CPS reporting requirements, the study found a 75% reduction in urine drug screenings and improved racial parity. This reduction in UDS was linked to a threefold decrease in marijuana-only positive test results, along with a two- to threefold increase in positive tests for non-cannabis and non-prescribed substances.
This study’s findings resonate with what the cannabis industry and its leading actors like TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) have always wanted to see; rigorous research that results in the rolling back of all vestiges of prohibition that have victimized sections of the population without any benefits accruing from those practices.
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