Influence of prenatal cannabinoid exposure on early development and beyond

Public perception surrounding whether cannabis use is harmful during pregnancy often diverges greatly from the recommendations of doctors and healthcare providers. In contrast to medical guidance abstinence before, during, after pregnancy, many women reproductive age believe associated with little potential harm. Legalization social cues support public perceptions that safe. Moreover, pregnant may consider be a safe alternative for treating related ailments, including morning sickness. Compounding problem lack federal on safe, low, or high-risk levels use. These issues mirror continuing debate alcohol health, in particular, there are lower risk consumption pregnancy. Clinical studies date suffer several limitations. First, most human correlative nature, meaning causal associations cannot made between utero exposure health behavioral outcomes later life. Due obvious ethical constraints, it not possible randomly assign mothers other drug conditions—a requirement needed establish causality. addition, clinical quantitative information maternal (i.e., dose, frequency, duration), include small number individuals, replication outcome measures across cohorts, rely self-report use, unmeasured residual confounding factors. Causal offspring preclinical cohorts but large amount heterogeneity study designs developmental differences rodents humans limit translatability. this review, we summarize research models provide insight into risks prenatal cannabinoid (PCE). Finally, highlight gaps knowledge likely contribute growing divide attitudes regarding