Hellobee Boards

I just don't know what to say....they are weird. I guess in MY world, this is just 100% wrong with no explanation needed. But, they are not me...they are not you. Whatever.....it just surprises me that people continue to put their own unhealthy habits before the health of their children (or themselves). I think this same think with 2nd and 3rd hand smoke while pregnant.

I don't have any scientific arguments for you, but basically, he smokes in the bedroom that will be the baby's room in 6 months? While she is in the house? I actually would have a bigger problem with him smoking in the house while I was pregnant, even if it is behind closed doors, than that it is in the baby's room.

However, I hate to say it but I think all you can do is tell her what you think and let her make her own decision. I don't think marijuana smoke lingers as badly as cigarette smoke (at least, the smell doesn't). But, can't he do it outside? Or in his car (assuming they won't have the baby in his car that often)?

I'm going to search for some articles, but I did want to comment quickly first that I don't think him having smoked in the room prior to baby's arrival actually counts as any type of smoke exposure. To count as smoke exposure there would have to be actual, physical smoke present in some way that the baby was either breathing in, or that the mother carrying the baby was inhaling. I'd honestly be more concerned with the pregnant woman being in the same house while he's smoking than I would with the baby using that room 6 months from now.

@MsLipGloss: This is nicotine though. I don't know that the same applies for marijuana.

ETA: Just want to clarify that I'm not condoning smoking marijuana in the baby's future room, just that I don't know that scientific studies exist about the hazards of third-hand marijuana smoke, specifically. Cigarette smoke, definitely, but I'm having trouble finding anything on pot.

@IRunForFun: Logically, it should. Marijuana smoke contains a similar range of harmful chemicals to that of tobacco smoke (including bronchial irritants, tumor promoters, and carcinogens).

http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/respiratoryeffects.htm (See footnote 1 for reference)

@IRunForFun: see above for the definition of third-hand smoke. its a very real thing and be just as bad as second hand smoke.

I think this took me less than a minute to find on Google.

@IRunForFun:
1.Hoffmann, D., Brunneman, D.K., Gori, G.B., & Wynder, E.L. (1975). On the carcinogenicity of marijuana smoke. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry 9, 63-81.

2.Novotny, M., Merli, F., Weisler, D., Fencl, M., & Saeed, T. (1982). Fractionation and capillary gas chromatographic mass spectrometric characterization of the neutral components in marijuana and tobacco smoke concentrates. Journal of Chromatography 238, 141-150.

3.Wu, T.C., Tashkin, D.P., Djahed, B., & Rose, J.E. (1988). Pulmonary hazards of smoking marijuana as compared with tobacco. New England Journal of Medicine 318, 347-351.

4.Tashkin, D.P., Gliederer, F., Rose, J., Chang, P., Hui, K.K., Yu, J.L., & Wu, T.C. (1991). Effects of varying marijuana smoking profile on deposition of tar and absorption of CO and Delta-9-THC. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 40, 651-656.

5.Benson, M. & Bentley, A.M. (1995). Lung disease induced by drug addiction. Thorax 50, 1125-1127.

6.Kalant, H., Van Hoozan, B.E. & Cross, C.E. (2004). Adverse effects of cannabis on health: An update of the literature since 1996. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 28, 849-863.

7.Taylor, D.R. & Hall, W. (2003). Respiratory health effects of cannabis: Position statement of The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Internal Medicine Journal 33, 310-313.

8.Tashkin, D.P. (2005). Smoked marijuana as a cause of lung injury. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 63, 93-100.

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10.Mehra, R., Moore, B.A., Crothers, K., Tetrault, J., & Fiellin, D.A. (2006). The association between marijuana smoking and lung cancer: A systematic review. Archives of Internal Medicine 166, 1359-1367.

11.Tashkin, D.R., Baldwin, G.C., Sarafian, T., Dubinett, S., & Roth, M.D. (2002). Respiratory and immunologic consequences of marijuana smoking. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 42, 71s-81s.

12.Tetrault, J.M., Crothers, K., Moore, B.A., Mehra, R., Concato, J., & Fiellin, D.A. (2007). Effects of marijuana smoking on pulmonary function and respiratory complications: A systematic review. Archives of Internal Medicine 167, 221-228.

13.Taylor, D.R., Fergusson, D.M., Milne, B.J., Horwood, L.J., Moffitt, T.E., Sears, M.R., & Poulton, R. (2002). A longitudinal study of the effects of tobacco and cannabis exposure in young adults. Addiction 97, 1055-1061.

14.Moore, B.A., Augustson, E.M., Moser, R.P., & Budney, A.J. (2004). Respiratory effects of marijuana and tobacco use in a U.S. sample. Journal of General Internal Medicine 20, 33-37.
15.Marselos, M. & Karamanakos, P. (1999). Mutagenicity, developmental toxicity and carcinogenicity of cannabis. Addiction Biology 4, 5-12.

16.Hatam, C.T.N. & Treasure, T. (2006). Bullous disease of the lung and cannabis smoking: Insufficient evidence for a causative link. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 99, 77-80.

17.Beshay, M., Kaiser, H., Niedhart, D., Reymond, M.A., & Schmid, R.A. (2007). Emphysema and secondary pneumothorax in young adults smoking cannabis. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 32, 834-838.

18.Hii, S.W., Tam, J.D., Thompson, B.R., & Naughton, M.T. (2008). Bullous lung disease due to marijuana. Respirology 13, 122-127.

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Thirdhand smokeing in terms of nicotine residue is MUCH different than pot smoke (which generally doesn't leave the same contact residue)... Ie. you won't absorb THC from my hands or clothes after I smoke pot, but you would be exposed to/absorb nicotine after I smoke a cigarette.

Really the only negative supporting argument I could think of is unless its prescribed, regardless of their degrees, it's still illegal & she would run risk of losing her child over it. Otherwise, him smoking in what will be the babies room isn't going to cause any harm to the child.

Why can't he just go outside? How odd.

@MrsLilybugg: @pui: fair enough.

@runsyellowlites: That's simply not true. Marijuana produces residue/resin just like cigarettes--the harmful chemicals (including THC) can be absorbed into textiles and other surfaces as well, leading to thirdhand exposure (there is more tar in marijuana, too).

ETA: Chemicals like benzene and tolulene

@IRunForFun: It's the chemicals in the marijuana (and their effects) that you should be looking at . . .

@MsLipGloss: I've never known anyone to get high from being around someone who had smoked prior to being around them or from handling weed, BUT have known those who got buzzed from nicotine exposure (and other drugs like cocaine which can also be absorbed through contact). Generally the resin would be contained in whatever the weed was smoked in, whether paper, a pipe, or this case a water bong. I just know that if you walk into a room where a cigarette smoker has smoked, even days later, you would smell it.. where as you wouldn't from someone who had been smoking pot. This just naturally makes me assume the way residue is left behind just isn't the same. Not saying that it couldn't be in the smoke that ends up in the air/on the wall/counter/drapes though so I would love to read the info regarding thc exposure like that though.

I agree with those who said maybe the dad should consider this baby ... smoking in it's future room is just bad taste in my opinion. I'm sure there will be no health issues once baby is here ... think about ALL of the things that happen in our homes before we move in? Actually, I don't want to think of anyone else living here (our place is 100 years old).

BUT, with all of that said, I think arguing with a friend about HER baby, and HER situation is a lost cause. All she's probably hearing is, "You guys are stupid, and your baby is going to die from pot!" ... I know that's not what you're saying, but in my experience, telling someone how to raise their children isn't a battle you'll ever win.

@runsyellowlites: I'm inclined to agree with you that it's much less risky than cigarettes-- you KNOW if someone has ever smoked in their car, for example, but I have been in cars where pot was smoked and can't tell. I personally wouldn't risk either.

I'm much more concerned that he is doing it around her while she is pregnant. Even if it's a different room, THAT seems like the really bad idea. But then again, I hold my breath when I walk past anyone smoking outside these days.

@IRunForFun: The scientific evidence about exposure to harmful chemicals should be enough . . . apparently, an article directly on point is required to be convincing.

There is not a scientist in the world who would conduct a direct study on the impact of thirdhand marijuana smoke on infants/children. If reading about harmful chemical substances contained in marijuana, and their ability to remain in an environment after being released, and their harmful effects isn't sufficiently convincing, I don't know what would be.

**Cigarette studies are more common also because cigarettes are not illegal. I digress . . .

@MsLipGloss: The only difference is that the chemicals in cigarettes vs. marijuana are completely and 100% different. So the studies cannot be compared like that.

Also, on a side note, something being illegal has never stopped scientists before. They have done a million studies on cigarettes, and there are enough people in the world who smoke pot around their children that there are enough subjects alone for scientists to study that they wouldn't have to go out looking for people/children to experiment on.

Here's a link to the study:

http://www.druglibrary.org/SCHAFFER/hemp/medical/can-babies.htm

It was based on smoking ("spliffs" whatever that is) but also took "ganja tea" consumption into account.