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3d ago

Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Increased Risks of Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Infant Death

A new JAMA Pediatrics meta-analysis strengthens evidence connecting prenatal cannabis exposure to adverse neonatal outcomes, citing impaired placental function as a key factor.

Smoking weed can restrict oxygen delivery to the fetus via the placenta, experts say.
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Overview

  • The meta-analysis reviewed 51 studies involving over 21 million participants to isolate the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy.
  • Prenatal cannabis use is associated with a 52% higher risk of preterm birth, a 75% higher risk of low birth weight, and a 29% higher risk of infant death.
  • Researchers upgraded the certainty of evidence for these outcomes from low to moderate, reflecting growing confidence in the findings.
  • Impaired placental function, including reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery, was identified as a likely mechanism driving these risks.
  • Cannabis use during pregnancy has more than doubled since 2002, with inconsistent public health messaging contributing to its continued prevalence.