Effects+of+Weed+and+the+Developmental+Stages

**Infancy : Birth to 18 months** We know that the use of marijuana crosses through the plecenta, and can be found in the newborn's body for up to a month after a single use. it causes less oxygen and food to get to the baby. This factor alone affects your baby's growth and brain development. Newborns of mothers who have used marijuana throughout pregnancy cry more. Some studies have shown that children exposed to marijuana while in the womb are at increased risk for attention disorders and learning problems that might not show up until school age. the effects of marijuana use in early childhood is little. The effects of doing the drug while pregnant can cause a child to have attention disorders or learning disabilities later on. These would start to show at this age because it is the age when children start to learn their fundmentals for kindergarten. In this stage of development early intervention would happen to help a child with attention disorders or learning disabilities. In this stage if a child has been affected by the use of marijuana while in the womb you will begin to see the issues that are developing attention disorders or a learning disability. This child is now with other children so being able to compare will be very easy.
 * Early Childhood: 18 Months to 3 Years **
 * Play Age: 3 to 5 Years **

In this stage of development the issues of an attention disorder and a learning disability are still very previlant. The child may be introduced to segregated learning where they are put in a behavioural class or have an IEP ( indipendent education plan) as well, if the parent did drugs while pregnant the child that was exposed to this is more likely to give in to peer pressure once introduced to drugs.
 * School Age: 6 to 12 Years **

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Prenatal marijuana exposure has an effect on child behavior problems at preschool and school age. 1st and 3rd trimester exposure predicted increased hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity symptoms. Currently there isn't very many studies that link a problem between the use of marijuana and cognitive affects on a child - there was one study that stated that the use of the drug during pregnancy would effect a childs ability to analyze as well as their visual memory.