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The rate of pregnant women in the US who are reportedly smoking marijuana is growing annually. Although this figure is small, 4 percent in 2014, the fact that more women are using the drug while pregnant is drawing attention and serious public concern. 

According to studies, some women admit to smoking marijuana for medical purposes. Others use the drug without knowledge that they were already pregnant. Marijuana was also said to help in alleviating nausea during the first trimester.

There are serious risks associated with using marijuana during pregnancy, which include anemia and other diseases that may require extensive care. Pre-term labor is also a cause for concern especially for pregnant women smoking marijuana. For the unborn children, they may suffer from low birth weight, trembling, disruption in the formation of nerve cells during brain development and other neurological problems. 

The chance of newborn abnormalities and anacephaly conditions have doubled when their mothers used pot while pregnant, according to research that involved 20,000 respondents. Although the risks are higher for females who smoked cigarettes instead of marijuana. 

The real threat, however, are the long term effects that will soon be evident as the child is growing up. Investigations show that children whose mother smoked pot during pregnancy showed odd behavior and exuded hyperactivity, lack of attention and impulsivity.