Cannabis and Pregnancy: A Review

Importance 

Prenatal cannabis use is rising and is a major public health issue. Cannabis use in pregnancy and during lactation has been associated with increased maternal and offspring morbidity and mortality.

Objective 

This review aims to summarize the existing literature and current recommendations for cannabis use during pregnancy or lactation.

Evidence Acquisition 

A PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar literature search using the following terms was performed to gather relevant data: “cannabis,” “cannabinoid,” “delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol,” “THC,” “cannabidiol,” “fetal outcomes,” “perinatal outcomes,” “pregnancy,” and “lactation.”

Results 

Available studies on cannabis use in pregnancy and during lactation were reviewed and support an association with increased risk of preterm birth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age infants.

Conclusion and Relevance 

There is a critical need for research on the effects of cannabis use in pregnancy and during lactation. This is a necessary first step before furthering patient education, developing interventions, and targeting antenatal surveillance to ameliorate the adverse impacts on maternal and fetal health.

Target Audience 

Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians, pediatricians

Learning Objectives 

After participating in this activity, the learner should be better able to describe options for treatment of cannabis use disorder; explain common forms of cannabinoids available for use; and discuss screening options for cannabis use in pregnancy.