Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Linked to Risks Across Multiple Organ Systems in Offspring
A narrative review consolidates evidence that prenatal cannabis exposure affects not just neurodevelopment but also cardiovascular, metabolic, gastrointestinal, and growth outcomes in offspring.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Beyond the well-documented cognitive and neurodevelopmental effects, prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with fetal growth restriction, altered cardiovascular development, hematologic changes, gastrointestinal effects, and increased long-term risk for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Even early or brief exposure during pregnancy showed associations with adverse outcomes.
Key Numbers
Over 40% of adults aged 19-30 reported past-year cannabis use. The review covers effects across at least 6 organ systems in offspring.
How They Did This
Narrative mini-review synthesizing evidence from animal/in vitro and human studies on prenatal cannabis exposure effects across multiple organ systems.
Why This Research Matters
With over 40% of adults aged 19-30 using cannabis in the past year and rising use among pregnant women, understanding the full scope of prenatal exposure risks is critical.
The Bigger Picture
Public perception of cannabis safety during pregnancy does not match the emerging evidence. The multi-system effects described here suggest prenatal cannabis exposure may program long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risk.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review format does not use systematic search methodology. Many included studies are preclinical. Human studies often cannot isolate cannabis from co-exposures like tobacco.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the threshold dose of prenatal cannabis that produces measurable effects?
- ?Do different cannabis products carry different prenatal risks?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Over 40% of adults aged 19-30 used cannabis in the past year
- Evidence Grade:
- Draws on both preclinical and clinical evidence with clear conclusions, but narrative review format and reliance on observational human data limit certainty.
- Study Age:
- 2025 review incorporating the latest evidence on prenatal cannabis exposure.
- Original Title:
- The changing landscape of cannabis use: impact on maternal health and neonatal outcomes.
- Published In:
- Pediatric research (2025)
- Authors:
- Krishnan, Parvathy, Yen, Elizabeth
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06861
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research without a strict systematic method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis safe during pregnancy?
This review compiles evidence that prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with adverse outcomes across multiple organ systems. The evidence does not support safety.
Does prenatal cannabis only affect brain development?
No. This review documents effects on cardiovascular, hematologic, gastrointestinal, growth, and endocrine/metabolic systems as well.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06861APA
Krishnan, Parvathy; Yen, Elizabeth. (2025). The changing landscape of cannabis use: impact on maternal health and neonatal outcomes.. Pediatric research. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04209-4
MLA
Krishnan, Parvathy, et al. "The changing landscape of cannabis use: impact on maternal health and neonatal outcomes.." Pediatric research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04209-4
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The changing landscape of cannabis use: impact on maternal h..." RTHC-06861. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/krishnan-2025-the-changing-landscape-of
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.