The use of marijuana by healthy adults is commonly viewed as having limited adverse health effects; however, its potential risks for foetal developmental abnormalities when used during pregnancy have not been thoroughly evaluated. Further, the use of marijuana among pregnant women is rising and is predicted to continue to increase.1This may be in part to elevate symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea. It is, therefore, important that the effects of prenatal marijuana on the developing foetus be fully assessed in order to create a proper set of guidelines for use before, during and after pregnancy as is standard with other drugs such as alcohol and nicotine. The endocannabinoid system is heavily involved in both neural development, especially cell migration, neuronal growth and synaptic plasticity, as well as lifelong processes such as motivation, motor control, emotional responses, cognition, and homeostasis.

Autism, cannabinoids, developmental disorders.