Surgeon General Issues Advisory Against Marijuana Use During Pregnancy and Adolescence

U.S. Surgeon Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, on August 29 issued an advisory against marijuana use by adolescents and pregnant women. “No amount of marijuana use during pregnancy or adolescence is known to be safe,” the advisory states.

The advisory cites statements from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as numerous studies. It also notes that the potency of marijuana today is much stronger, with the THC concentration in commonly cultivated marijuana plants having increased three-fold between 1995 and 2014.

“Recent increases in access to marijuana and in its potency, along with misperceptions of safety of marijuana endanger our most precious resource, our nation’s youth,” the advisory stated.

Read the full advisory.

See the August 29 news conference with Surgeon General Dr. Adams and Secretary of Health & Human Services Alex Azar.

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Letter from the President 2025

January 6, 2025

I consider it a sincere honor to serve as president of the Kansas City Medical Society this year. As we look forward to this new year, we celebrate our previous accomplishments and look for new ways to meet the challenges of our ever-changing healthcare environment. As we recognize our recent successes, I want to take the opportunity to thank Dr. Greg Unruh, our immediate past president, for his excellent leadership, and I look forward to his continued partnership, providing much-needed wisdom and experience to our board of directors as well as a leadership council. I am also deeply appreciative of Micah Flint, our executive director, now in his third year with the Society. As a board, we are prioritizing key areas where we believe the Society can make a difference for physicians and the communities we serve. With this in mind, we will continue our focus on wellness, advocacy, and expand our opportunities for in person social and educational gatherings. Our journal connects us in a variety of valuable ways, and we will continue its publication and expand its distribution. Under the directorship of Karole Bradford, the Society’s Foundation continues to do invaluable work. We celebrate those accomplishments and the charitable care they provide to our community’s vulnerable population. We are grateful for our individual members and corporate sponsors and welcome your suggestions of how the Society can best serve physicians and our community. Please mark your calendar for the Society’s upcoming events and consider inviting physician colleagues to join you as we gather to learn and support one another.