Baranger, D. A. A., Paul, S. E., Colbert, S. M. C., Karcher, N. R., Johnson, E. C., Hatoum, A. S., & Bogdan, R. (2022). Association of Mental Health Burden With Prenatal Cannabis Exposure From Childhood to Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Findings From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. JAMA Pediatrics, 176(12), 1261–1265.
Rationale: Cannabis use during pregnancy—known as prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE)—has been linked to negative effects on child development. In this study, researchers asked whether PCE affects mental or behavioral wellbeing in early adolescence?
Method: Researchers looked at three groups of adolescents aged 12-14: those with no prenatal exposure to cannabis; those who were exposed only before mothers were aware of their pregnancy; and those who were exposed throughout pregnancy.
Results: The researchers linked PCE to mental and behavioral problems in adolescence.
Children of mothers who continued using cannabis throughout their pregnancy had: nearly 3x more conduct problems than children not exposed to cannabis; 2x more social difficulties than children not exposed; 2x more ADHD symptoms than children not exposed; 2x the likelihood of cognitive impairments than children not exposed.
Meaning: Maternal cannabis use is associated with impaired child development. During adolescence, offspring of mothers who used cannabis have significant behavioral, mood, and cognitive challenges.