New Study Debunks Cannabis-Preterm Birth Myth

Alberta, Canada: Prenatal cannabis exposure is not associated with either adverse birth outcomes or neurodevelopmental delays in children during the first 12 months of life, according to data published in the journal JAACAP Open.

Canadian investigators compared birth outcomes and neurodevelopment in children exposed to cannabis in-utero and those who were not.

Researchers reported, “No significant associations were identified between prenatal cannabis exposure and gestational age, increased rate of preterm birth, birth weight, or odds of being classified as LBW [low birth weight].”

Investigators also acknowledged an absence of neurodevelopmental differences after adjusting for socioeconomic confounders. “Prenatal exposure to cannabis did not significantly predict the likelihood of failing to meet the cutoff score across any of the developmental domains measured by the ASQ-3 [Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition] except for the communication domain. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, no significant differences were identified on any domains,” they reported.

Despite the null findings, they nonetheless cautioned, “The lack of significant associations identified in the current study should not be misinterpreted to suggest that consuming cannabis products during pregnancy is safe.”

Separate data published in 2022 in the journal Population Research and Policy Review reported that changes in marijuana’s legal status have not been associated with increases in adverse clinical birth outcomes.

Studies assessing the potential impacts of in-utero cannabis exposure on perinatal health have yielded inconsistent results. While some observational studies have identified a link between exposure and low birth weight or an increased risk of preterm birth, other studies have not. A literature review published in the journal Preventive Medicine concluded, “Although there is a theoretical potential for cannabis to interfere with neurodevelopment, human data drawn from four prospective cohorts have not identified any long-term or long-lasting meaningful differences between children exposed in utero to cannabis and those not.”

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of the association between prenatal cannabis use and risk of developmental delay,” appears in JAACAP Open.

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