In the biggest study of its kind, published in the journal Pediatrics (the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics), infants that tested positive for marijuana had a massive decrease in their likelihood of early mortality.
In the study of 2,964 infants, those that were drug-negative had an average mortality rate of 15.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. Cocaine and opiate-positive infants had a mortality rate of 17.7 and 18.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, those that tested positive for cannabis had an average mortality rate of 8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, a 44% decrease in comparison to the infants that were drug-negative.
Of the babies who tested positive for only cannabis, and no other substance (157 babies total), there was not a single death during the course of the study.
This study was published years ago, but many have never heard of it, in part due to a lack of media attention upon initial publication. Despite being years old, no similar study has been conducted at near the same size.
According to the study’s abstract, the objective was to “determine the mortality rate, during the first 2 years of life, in infants who were exposed to cocaine, opiate, or cannabinoid during gestation.”
For a period of 11 months, “a large group of infants were enrolled and screened at birth for exposure to cocaine, opiate, or cannabinoid by meconium analysis.” Death outcome, within the first 2 years after birth, was determined in this group of infants using the death registry of the Michigan Department of Public Health.
A total of 2,964 infants were studied. At birth, 44% of the infants tested positive for drugs: 30.5% positive for cocaine, 20.2% for opiate, and 11.4% for cannabinoids. Within the first 2 years of life, there averaged 15.7 deaths per 1,000 live births among drug-negative infants, with the mortality rate among cannabinoid positive infants stood at 8.9 per 1000 live births. However, this included infants who tested positive for cannabis as well as other drugs like cocaine.
The study can be found by clicking here.
