Effects of Cannabis Use During Pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives: We aim to elucidate the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify subjects who had clinic visits to our county hospital between November 2018 and November 2021, had any ICD code beginning with Z3A (indicating gestation), and had a Urine Drug Screen (UDS) performed. We identified UDS results positive for cannabis and time-based controls for cannabis negative results. We performed a retrospective cohort study with n=370 and collected data on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using standard data analysis techniques, including independent t-test and crosstabulation chi-square analyses, to assess differences between marijuana-positive groups vs. marijuana-hostile groups. Results: We found significant associations between cannabis use during pregnancy and increased prevalence of comorbid mood disorders and psychotic disorders. No statistically significant differences in anxiety disorders were found between the two groups. Additionally, we found a significant association between cannabis being used during pregnancy and increased failures in newborn hearing screenings. Conclusions: Our study suggests that cannabis use during pregnancy may be associated with comorbid mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and neonatal hearing deficits. These findings indicate that the safety profile of cannabis use during gestation may be discordant with the widespread understanding of this substance.