Perinatal Marijuana Use and the Developing Child

Jansson et al elaborate the legalization of cannabis as a way to decrease opioid fatalities and as a safe alternative to opioids in addressing pain. Cannabis potency has been substantially increasing over the past 4 decades in the US and will likely continue to do so as extraction procedures of active components improve. Although cannabis does have known medical utility for some conditions, expanding use of cannabis among pregnant and lactating women may lead to increased risk from fetal and child exposures if the teratogenic potential of cannabis remains underappreciated.