July 22, 2026
Professor Joe Ryan was quoted in a CBS News story about racial disparities in newborn drug tests. Ryan co-authored a study which found that the parents of Black newborns were more likely to be reported to child welfare over positive marijuana tests, but rarely went on to commit child abuse or neglect.
“There’s really no reason to be testing for THC,” Ryan said. He points out that hospitals rarely screen for alcohol, even though it has far more detrimental effects on a developing fetus than marijuana. Reducing testing and reporting of marijuana, he said, would lessen the disproportionate number of Black families getting reported into the system.
The story was run in additional media outlets including Mother Jones, Phys.org and WSGW-AM radio.
