The Impact of Using Cannabis During Pregnancy on the Infant and Mother: An Overview of Systematic Reviews, Evidence Map, Targeted Updates, and De Novo Synthesis

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol . 2025 Jun;65(3):312–328. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13916. Cannabis use has become mainstream for both recreation and medical purposes, and its use is estimated at 2% to 5% of the population in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Legislation has influenced the shifts in usage and perceptions of risks associated with cannabis use, with decreased perception of risk and increased use dominating the trends. This has also led to misconceptions about the safety of using cannabis during pregnancy as a common belief for those who use cannabis during pregnancy is that it can relieve nausea and manage appetite and mood, assuming there is negligible risk to both mother and fetus. Previous research has provided conflicting results on this issue, and no clear guidelines exist. This study is meant to provide an overview of previous literature on cannabis use during pregnancy across a range of outcomes to better communicate any risks. Specifically, the authors investigated: (i) for infants exposed prenatally to cannabis, what are the effects on fetal development, neonatal withdrawal, birth outcomes, infant development, and child development up to the age of 16? (ii) For women who use cannabis while pregnant, what are the effects on antenatal and obstetric outcomes?