# Maternal Cannabis & Autism/ADHD Risk: Clinical Evidence > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-use-pregnancy-risks-research/ > **Published:** 2026-03-25T21:43:41-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:57:34-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore maternal cannabis use in pregnancy risks research showing links to autism and ADHD in offspring from clinical evidence and meta-analyses. --- #### Clinical Takeaway Children born to mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy showed a modestly elevated risk for autism spectrum disorder and a smaller increase in risk for ADHD, based on a meta-analysis of 13 observational studies. [Cannabis compounds](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-terpene-synergy-entourage-effect/) cross the placental barrier and may affect fetal brain development through [cannabinoid receptors](https://cedclinic.com/citral-cannabinoid-receptor-2-activation-pain-relief/). These findings support recommending against cannabis use during pregnancy, though observational data cannot confirm direct causation. ### #16 Maternal Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring. **Citation:** Andrade Chittaranjan. *Maternal Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring.* The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 39724097. **Study type:** Journal Article, Meta-Analysis  |  **Topic area:** Autism  |  **CED Score:** 11 Design: 6 Journal: 0 N: 2 Recency: 1 Pop: 3 Human: 1 Risk: -2 **Quality Gate Alerts:** - Preclinical only **Methodological Considerations:** - Retrospective design — selection and information bias risk **Abstract:** Up to 10% of women may use cannabis during pregnancy; this is of concern because constituents of cannabis cross the placental barrier and potentially influence neurodevelopment by acting on cannabinoid receptors in the developing fetal brain. In this context, a recent meta analysis of 13 observational studies found that gestational exposure to cannabis was associated with a small increase in the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD; relative risk [RR], 1.30) and with an even smaller increase in the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; RR, 1.13); the latter finding was probably supported by publication bias. In this meta-analysis, 4 studies provided information on ASD (pooled N = 178,565) and 10 on ADHD (pooled N = 203,783). In a large (n = 222,534) retrospectively ascertained cohort study published after the meta-analysis, cannabis use disorder (CUD) recorded before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and during pregnancy plus the year after delivery were associated with closely similar increased risks of ASD (RRs, 3.02-3.21). The risks were smaller in smokers (RRs, 1.74-1.87) than in nonsmokers (RRs, 4.55-4.83) but differed little between male (RRs, 3.01-3.06) and female (RRs, 2.71-2.85) offspring. Although the cohort study had many strengths, its limitations permitted only the conclusion that peri-pregnancy exposure to CUD is associated with a large increase in the risk of ASD in offspring; it remained possible that much of the risk was driven by genetic, environmental, or behavioral variables. The field is nascent; the total number of cannabis exposed pregnancies (with ASD and ADHD as the outcomes) in world literature is small. However, cannabis use during pregnancy is, at the very least, a clear marker for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, besides the adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes identified in other studies. Healthcare providers who manage women who use cannabis during pregnancy need to be aware of these adverse outcomes.  |  [View on PubMed ↗](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39724097/)[DOI ↗](https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.24f15717) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Maternal Cannabis Exposure and Risk of ASD ADHD in Offspring: A Systematic Review of Endocannabinoid System Research](https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-exposure-risk-asd-offspring/) A comprehensive review of how maternal cannabis exposure impacts autism and ADHD risk through [endocannabinoid system](https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-fear-extinction/) pathways. [Read the systematic review](https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-exposure-risk-asd-offspring/) [Endocannabinoid System Research: Pregnancy Cannabis Effects](https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-exposure-risk-asd-adhd-offspring/) Explore research on how cannabis use during pregnancy affects the endocannabinoid system and [fetal development](https://cedclinic.com/prenatal-cannabinoid-exposure-reproductive-health-insights/). [Explore pregnancy cannabis effects](https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-exposure-risk-asd-adhd-offspring/) [Endocannabinoid System Cannabis Pregnancy Autism ADHD Risk](https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-use-pregnancy-autism-risk/) Detailed [clinical research](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/) on the relationship between cannabis use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD risk in children. [Learn about autism and ADHD risk](https://cedclinic.com/maternal-cannabis-use-pregnancy-autism-risk/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [X Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Maternal%20Cannabis%20%26%20Autism/ADHD%20Risk%3A%20Clinical%20Evidence&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fmaternal-cannabis-use-pregnancy-risks-research%2F) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fmaternal-cannabis-use-pregnancy-risks-research%2F) [Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Maternal%20Cannabis%20%26%20Autism/ADHD%20Risk%3A%20Clinical%20Evidence%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fmaternal-cannabis-use-pregnancy-risks-research%2F) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan) [Read more on Substack](https://doctorapprovedcannabis.substack.com/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/feed/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).