Peri-pregnancy cannabis use was not linked to autism in offspring
Maternal cannabis use from 3 months before conception through delivery was not significantly associated with autism spectrum disorder in children, compared to population controls or children with other developmental conditions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among children assessed at 30-68 months of age, peri-pregnancy cannabis use was reported for 5.2% of ASD cases, 3.2% of children with other developmental delays, and 4.4% of population controls. After adjustment, the odds of peri-pregnancy cannabis use did not differ significantly between groups.
Key Numbers
4,254 children total. ASD: 5.2% cannabis exposed. Other developmental delays: 3.2% exposed. Population controls: 4.4% exposed. No significant differences between groups.
How They Did This
Case-control study comparing children with ASD (N=1,428), other developmental delays (N=1,198), and population controls (N=1,628) born 2003-2011 from the Study to Explore Early Development. Self-reported maternal cannabis use assessed for the period from 3 months pre-conception through delivery.
Why This Research Matters
Animal models and neurobiology have suggested potential risks of prenatal cannabis exposure for neurodevelopment, but this large study found no association with ASD in humans.
The Bigger Picture
While this study found no ASD link, the authors note that cannabis use patterns and perceptions have changed since the 2003-2011 birth cohort, making continued monitoring important.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported cannabis use likely underestimates true exposure. Birth cohort (2003-2011) predates major legalization and potency increases. Cannot assess dose-response relationships.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would results differ in more recent cohorts with higher potency cannabis and greater use prevalence?
- ?Could timing of exposure during pregnancy matter more than any/no exposure?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No significant difference in ASD rates by peri-pregnancy cannabis exposure
- Evidence Grade:
- Large multi-site case-control study with appropriate controls, though self-reported exposure and older birth cohort limit conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022 with children born 2003-2011.
- Original Title:
- Peri-Pregnancy Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Offspring: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development.
- Published In:
- Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 52(11), 5064-5071 (2022)
- Authors:
- DiGuiseppi, Carolyn(2), Crume, Tessa(4), Van Dyke, Julia(2), Sabourin, Katherine R, Soke, Gnakub N, Croen, Lisa A, Daniels, Julie L, Lee, Li-Ching, Schieve, Laura A, Windham, Gayle C, Friedman, Sandra, Robinson Rosenberg, Cordelia
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03808
Evidence Hierarchy
Compares people with a condition to similar people without it.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean cannabis is safe during pregnancy?
This study only looked at ASD specifically and found no association. It does not address other potential risks of prenatal cannabis exposure, and the authors recommend further studies with more recent cohorts.
How many children were studied?
The study included 4,254 children: 1,428 with ASD, 1,198 with other developmental conditions, and 1,628 population controls.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03808APA
DiGuiseppi, Carolyn; Crume, Tessa; Van Dyke, Julia; Sabourin, Katherine R; Soke, Gnakub N; Croen, Lisa A; Daniels, Julie L; Lee, Li-Ching; Schieve, Laura A; Windham, Gayle C; Friedman, Sandra; Robinson Rosenberg, Cordelia. (2022). Peri-Pregnancy Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Offspring: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development.. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 52(11), 5064-5071. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05339-4
MLA
DiGuiseppi, Carolyn, et al. "Peri-Pregnancy Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Offspring: Findings from the Study to Explore Early Development.." Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05339-4
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Peri-Pregnancy Cannabis Use and Autism Spectrum Disorder in ..." RTHC-03808. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/diguiseppi-2022-peripregnancy-cannabis-use-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.