Aurora, CO: Mothers with a history of consuming cannabis in the months prior to or during pregnancy do not possess a greater likelihood of having children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to data published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
A team of researchers with the University of Colorado, School of Public Health assessed whether mothers with a self-reported history of maternal cannabis use are more likely to give birth to children with either ASD or development disorders. They reported that mothers with a history of marijuana use were no more likely than non-users to have children with either autism or developmental delays by age five.
Other studies have shown inconsistent results with respect to in utero cannabis exposure and certain neonatal outcomes, including birth weight and certain behavioral outcomes.
Full text of the study, “Per-pregnancy cannabis use and autism spectrum disorder in the offspring: Findings from the study to explore early development,” appears in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Additional information is available in the NORML fact sheet, “Maternal Marijuana Use and Childhood Outcomes.”
Source: NORML – make a donation