Summarised by Centrist
A new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, analysed data from 355 women at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, showing that children exposed to cannabis during pregnancy had “poorer task-based planning ability” and exhibited “more observed aggression” by age five.
These developmental impacts may hinder children’s long-term academic success.
Cannabis use in pregnancy, often turned to for relief from stress, nausea, or sleep issues, may have lasting implications. Lead researcher Sarah Keim advised against it, despite cannabis being “a natural product,” due to its “many risks.” Keim noted, “Our findings…confirm and expand on longstanding evidence.”
Alongside cannabis, many participants were exposed to other substances, such as tobacco and alcohol, with many living below the poverty line. This added complexity to understanding cannabis’s specific impact on child development.
Another aspect of the study highlights additional physical risks. Pregnant women who use cannabis face a higher risk of conditions like pregnancy-induced hypertension, with one study noting a 19% chance of placenta detachment.
Research also links cannabis exposure to brain development issues in the prefrontal cortex, essential for learning. “It is recommended that pregnant persons do not use cannabis,” the CDC warned, reinforcing that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can pass through the mother to the baby, impacting their health across multiple areas.
