A review examines the impacts of marijuana use during pregnancy on fetal development, noting that some effects may not be apparent until childhood follow-up.
OB/GYN providers, pediatricians, pregnant individuals, and developmental researchers.
Delayed effectsSome prenatal marijuana effects only become apparent through careful long-term follow-up into childhood
What the researchers found
Prenatal marijuana exposure can affect fetal development through multiple mechanisms, with some effects visible at birth and others becoming apparent only through careful long-term follow-up into childhood.
Why it matters
Shifting legal and cultural attitudes toward marijuana are increasing prenatal exposure at a time when our understanding of long-term developmental consequences is still incomplete.
The numbers in context
The review covers marijuana among drugs ingested during pregnancy that can impact the developing fetus, noting effects ranging from overt teratogenicity to subtle long-term developmental impacts.
How the study worked
Narrative review of evidence on prenatal marijuana exposure effects on fetal and child development.
Who was studied
Pregnant individuals using marijuana and their offspring, followed from prenatal period through childhood.
What this study cannot tell us
Narrative review format; many underlying studies are observational with confounding factors; isolating marijuana effects from other substance use is challenging.
How to read the evidence
Narrative review of observational evidence; provides comprehensive overview but limited by underlying study quality.
When this study was published
Recent review addressing an increasingly prevalent prenatal exposure.
The bigger picture
As marijuana normalization increases, the gap between cultural acceptance and developmental safety evidence grows, creating an urgent need for clear clinical messaging to pregnant individuals.
Replication
Consistent with multiple prior reviews on prenatal cannabis exposure; adds cultural context of shifting attitudes.
Funding
Not specified
Conflicts of interest
Not specified
Questions still open
- Which developmental domains are most affected by prenatal marijuana?
- At what gestational age is the fetus most vulnerable?
- Can effects be detected through standard pediatric screening?
Read the original research
Up in Smoke: The Impacts of Marijuana During Pregnancy.
Neonatal network : NN, 42(4), 222-232
Citation
McPherson, Christopher. (2023). Up in Smoke: The Impacts of Marijuana During Pregnancy.. Neonatal network : NN, 42(4), 222-232. https://doi.org/10.1891/NN-2022-0040