#72
Notable Clinical Interest
Emerging findings or policy developments worth monitoring closely.
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and currently use cannabis, this research underscores why having an honest, judgment-free conversation with your physician about timing, risks, and alternatives is essential for both your care and your baby’s long-term neurodevelopmental health.
Emerging research is exploring how prenatal cannabis exposure may alter genetic markers in the placenta, particularly in pregnancies associated with low birth weight, and whether those placental changes could serve as early indicators of neurodevelopmental risk including schizophrenia. This builds on what we already know clinically about the endocannabinoid system’s critical role in fetal brain development and placental function. While the science is still evolving, it reinforces the importance of careful counseling for pregnant patients who use or are considering using cannabis during pregnancy.
“We do not yet have a crystal ball in the placenta, but every new study like this reminds me that the conversation about cannabis and pregnancy needs to happen before conception, not after delivery.”
? Researchers are investigating whether placental genetic markers altered by prenatal cannabis exposure could predict neurodevelopmental outcomes like schizophrenia risk. The endocannabinoid system is deeply involved in both placental function and fetal brain wiring, which is why cannabis use during pregnancy warrants serious clinical attention. ️ This does not mean cannabis causes schizophrenia, but it does mean we need to take the timing and context of exposure seriously. ️ In my clinic, I always tell patients that the best time to discuss cannabis and pregnancy is before pregnancy, not in the third trimester. As the science matures, our counseling must stay ahead of it, not behind.
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