In a study of over 31,000 preterm infants, maternal cannabis use disorder during pregnancy was not associated with any change in risk of retinopathy of prematurity, a potentially blinding eye disease of premature babies.
Obstetricians, neonatologists, ophthalmologists screening premature infants, and pregnant women concerned about cannabis exposure effects.
No change in ROP risk with maternal cannabis use disorder (aRR=1.0)
What the researchers found
Among infants born at 22-31 weeks gestation, 32.1% of those born to mothers with cannabis use disorder developed retinopathy of prematurity compared to 33.3% of those born to mothers without CUD. After adjusting for covariates, the risk was identical (aRR=1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1).
Why it matters
Given concerns about prenatal cannabis exposure on fetal development, this null finding provides reassurance that at least one specific neonatal eye complication is not increased, helping clinicians counsel pregnant women with evidence rather than speculation.
The numbers in context
997 infants born to mothers with CUD; 30,113 born to mothers without CUD. ROP rates: 32.1% vs 33.3%. Adjusted relative risk: 1.0 (95% CI 0.9-1.1). No increased or decreased risk.
How the study worked
Retrospective cohort study using the UC San Diego SOMI population-based database. Included infants born between 22 and <31 weeks gestation and/or weighing <1500g who survived to ROP screening age. Maternal CUD and infant ROP identified from ICD codes. Adjusted relative risk calculated with log-linear regression.
What this study cannot tell us
Cannabis use disorder diagnosis (ICD codes) may miss mild or undisclosed use. Retrospective design. Single health system in San Diego. Cannot assess dose-response or distinguish CUD severity.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: large population-based cohort with appropriate statistical adjustment, but limited by ICD-code-based exposure assessment.
When this study was published
Published 2026.
The bigger picture
This study contributes to the growing body of evidence examining specific outcomes of prenatal cannabis exposure, moving beyond general "cannabis is dangerous during pregnancy" messaging to evidence-based risk assessment of individual outcomes.
Questions still open
- Does the null finding hold for other measures of prenatal cannabis exposure beyond diagnosed CUD? Are there subtler retinal effects not captured by ROP diagnosis? Would a dose-response analysis with quantified cannabis exposure show different results?
Common questions
Does cannabis use during pregnancy affect the baby's eyes?
What is retinopathy of prematurity?
Read the original research
The relationship between maternal cannabis use disorder diagnosis and the development of retinopathy of prematurity.
Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 104748
Citation
Tran, Melanie D; Baer, Rebecca J; Bandoli, Gretchen; Robbins, Shira L; Granet, David; Chambers, Christina D; Rudell, Jolene C. (2026). The relationship between maternal cannabis use disorder diagnosis and the development of retinopathy of prematurity.. Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 104748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaapos.2026.104748
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