Cannabis associated with reduced infant mortality

Storm Crow for Salem-News.com

Surprising connections between “Failure-to-Thrive” and Cannabinoids.

Image from a story about the Use Of Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids In The Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases from Science Daily

(NORTHERN CALIFORNIA) – Years ago, a friend of mine, a good Christian lady, had a child with “failure to thrive”. She had CPS all over her, looking for even the tiniest trace of child neglect. They found none. The child was well cared for, but she just didn’t seem that interested in eating. Her bottles often went half finished.

I believe that those bottles of formula, given from birth, were major part of the problem. Our bodies make chemicals called “endocannabinoids” that are closely related to THC and cannabidiol (CBD). Endocannabinoids control many bodily functions and are excreted into breast milk. When lactating female rabbits were injected with CBD, a non-psychoactive, plant-derived cannabinoid, there was “a significant accumulation of the drug in milk.” ^[1]

Endocannabinoids are also detected in human and cow’s milk, with the highest levels occurring the day after giving birth. This healthy dose of naturally-occurring endocannabinoids stimulates the suckling reflex in newborn mammals, including humans^[2].

When newborn mice are given a chemical to block the effect between endocannabinoids and their CB receptors, the mice simply don’t know how to eat. Yet, if the blocking agent is mixed with an equivalent amount of THC, the mice eat and grow normally^[3].

…

“No drugs at birth” deaths……. 15.7 deaths per 1000 live births

“Cocaine positive” deaths…….17.7 deaths per 1000 live births

“Opiate positive” deaths…….18.4 deaths per 1000 live births

“Cannabis positive” deaths…. 8.9 deaths per 1000 live births ^[5]

…

^[1] Mammary excretion of cannabidiol in rabbits after intravenous administration – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

^[2] Born with the munchies – newscientist.com/

^[3] Critical role of the endogenous cannabinoid system in mouse pup suckling and growth – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

^[4] The endocannabinoid-CB receptor system: Importance for development and in pediatric disease – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

^[5] Mortality Within the First 2 Years in Infants Exposed to Cocaine, Opiate, or Cannabinoid During Gestation – pediatrics.aappublications.org

…

Full article here