Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with a higher risk of many different forms of birth defects and long-term neurodevelopmental effects. Cannabis during pregnancy not only exposes the developing fetus to harmful outcomes, but also can create adverse effects for offspring later in life.
In this episode of CNT, we review these known adverse birth outcomes, which underscores the significance of implementing preventative strategies for guiding cannabis use during pregnancy. The bottom line: Just Say...
Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with a higher risk of many different forms of birth defects and long-term neurodevelopmental effects. Cannabis during pregnancy not only exposes the developing fetus to harmful outcomes, but also can create adverse effects for offspring later in life.
In this episode of CNT, we review these known adverse birth outcomes, which underscores the significance of implementing preventative strategies for guiding cannabis use during pregnancy. The bottom line: Just Say No.
EPISODE RESOURCES
Allen, S., Natale, B.V., Ejeckam, A.O., Lee, K., Hardy, D.B., & Natale, D.R. (2024). Cannabidiol exposure during rat pregnancy leads to labyrinth-specific vascular defects in the placenta and reduced fetal growth. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.016
Braillon, A. & Bewley, S.(2018, January). Committee Opinion No. 722: Marijuana Use During Pregnancy and Lactation. Obstetrics & Gynecology 131(1), 164. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28937574/
Cioffredi, L.A., Anderson, H., Loso, H., East, J., Nguyen, P., Garavan, H., & Potter, A. (2022). Prenatal cannabis exposure predicts attention problems, without changes on fMRI in adolescents. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 91, 107089. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35314358/
Dickson, B., Mansfield, C., Guiahi, M., Allshouse, A.A., Borgelt, L.M., Sheeder, J., ... & Metz, T.D. (2018). Recommendations from cannabis dispensaries about first-trimester cannabis use. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 131(6), 1031-1038. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5970054/
Evanski, J.M., Zundel, C.G., Baglot, S.L., Desai, S., Gowatch, L.C., Ely, S.L., ... & Marusak, H.A. (2024). The first “hit” to the endocannabinoid system? Associations between prenatal cannabis exposure and frontolimbic white matter pathways in children. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, 4(1), 11-18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38021250/
Lee, K., & Hardy, D.B. (2021). Metabolic consequences of gestational cannabinoid exposure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(17), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179528
Li, Y., Dewar, A., Kim, Y.S., Dey, S.K., & Sun, X. (2020). Pregnancy success in mice requires appropriate cannabinoid receptor signaling for primary decidua formation. eLife, 9, e61762. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.61762
Lin, A., Dent, G.L., Davies, S., Dominguez, Z.M., Cioffredi, L.A., McLemore, G.L., & Maxwell, J.R. (2023). Prenatal cannabinoid exposure: Why expecting individuals should take a pregnancy pause from using cannabinoid products. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 11, 1278227. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1278227/full
Machado, A.S., Bragança, M., & Vieira-Coelho, M. (2024). Epigenetic effects of cannabis: A systematic scoping review of behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with cannabis use and exocannabinoid exposure. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 111401. https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy.lib.odu.edu/science/article/pii/S0376871624003247
Moore, B.F., Sauder, K.A., Shapiro, A.L., Crume, T., Kinney, G.L., & Dabelea, D. (2022). Fetal exposure to cannabis and childhood metabolic outcomes: The Healthy Start Study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 107(7), e2862-e2869. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35357471/
Nashed, M.G., Hardy, D.B., & Laviolette, S.R. (2021). Prenatal cannabinoid exposure: Emerging evidence of physiological and neuropsychiatric abnormalities. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.624275
Sorkhou, M., Singla, D.R., Castle, D.J., & George, T.P. (2024). Birth, cognitive and behavioral effects of intrauterine cannabis exposure in infants and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 119(3), 411–437. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16370
Tadesse, A.W., Ayano, G., Dachew, B.A., Tusa, B.S., Damtie, Y., Betts, K., & Alati, R. (2024). The association between prenatal cannabis use and congenital birth defects in offspring: A cumulative meta-analysis. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 102, 107340. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38460861/
Tadesse, A.W., Dachew, B.A., Ayano, G., Betts, K., & Alati, R. (2024). Prenatal cannabis use and the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 171, 142-151. https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy.lib.odu.edu/science/article/pii/S0022395624000591
Torres, J., Miller, C., Apostol, M., Gross, J., & Maxwell, J.R. (2024). The impact of recreational cannabinoid legalization on utilization in a pregnant population. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1278834. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1278834/full
