An epidemiological, developmental and clinical overview of cannabis use during pregnancy

Abstract

The objective of the current narrative literature review is to provide an epidemiological, developmental and clinical overview on cannabis use during pregnancy. Cannabis use in pregnancy poses major health concerns for pregnant mothers and their developing children. Although studies on the short- and long-term consequences of prenatal cannabis exposure are increasing, findings have been inconsistent or difficult to interpret due to methodological issues. Thus, consolidating these findings into clinical recommendations based on the mixed studies in the literature remains a challenge. Synthesizing the available observational studies is also difficult, because some of the published studies have substantial methodological weaknesses. Improving observational studies will be an important step toward understanding the extent to which prenatal exposure to cannabis influences neurodevelopment in the offspring. Therefore, further research on prenatal cannabis exposure and the long-term consequences to offspring health in representative samples are needed to guide and improve clinical care for pregnant women and their children. Future research should also investigate the role of policies on prenatal cannabis use.

Sex‐specific behavioural deficits induced at early life by prenatal exposure to the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55, 212‐2 depend on mGlu5 receptor signalling

“…Human studies have provided invaluable information on the detrimental effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on the offspring from the neonatal period through to early adulthood (Crume et al, 2018;El Marroun et al, 2018;Huizink, 2014;Ryan, Ammerman, & O'Connor, 2018), revealing increased tremors, startle, altered sleep patterns at birth (Calvigioni, Hurd, Harkany, & Keimpema, 2014;Volkow, Compton, & Wargo, 2017) and significant impairment of higher cognitive functions beyond infancy (Fried, 2002;Fried, Watkinson, & Gray, 1998;Grant, Campbell, & Beckert, 2018;Huizink & Mulder, 2006;Leech, Richardson, Goldschmidt, & Day, 1999;Passey, Sanson-Fisher, D'Este, & Stirling, 2014;Smith, Fried, Hogan, & Cameron, 2006). However, one weakness of human studies is that they cannot control for environmental and genetic factors.…”

Cannabis use and stressful life events during the perinatal period: cross‐sectional results from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data, 2016

“…miscarriage, stillbirth) [2] and long-term negative health effects (e.g. poor executive functioning, emotional and behavioral problems) [5,6]. Therefore, the current clinical recommendations are that clinicians should advise women to quit or reduce their cannabis use during pregnancy [4,5,7]; however, relatively little is known about risk factors for use of cannabis during the perinatal period.…”

Prenatal drug exposure and neurodevelopmental programming of glucocorticoid signalling

“…The importance of the role of eCB signalling in neurodevelopment is of particular importance at this time, given rising rates of marijuana use during pregnancy, a drug that contains multiple compounds which activate the CB system and has the potential to affect neurodevelopmental outcomes …”