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Updated: May 5, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
The longitudinal assessment of prenatal cannabis use on neonatal outcomes
Leah L Habersham1,2,3, Yasmin L Hurd4,5, Yoko Nomura6
1Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, US. Leah.Habersham@mountsinai.org.
Objective:
To investigate the association between prenatal cannabis use and perinatal outcomes using longitudinal data from pregnant individuals.
Study Design:
This secondary-data analysis study utilized data collected from 894 pregnant individuals followed in the Stress in Pregnancy longitudinal study, conducted between 2009 and 2013. The status of cannabis use was ascertained through interviews and electronic medical record reviews to evaluate the effect of cannabis use on perinatal outcomes (NICU admission, preterm delivery, low birth weight, fetal death).
Results:
Among participants analyzed, 13.1% used cannabis, who were generally younger (25.9 vs 27.9 years). There was a sevenfold increased risk of fetal death (OR 7.30) among cannabis users relative to non-users. Elevated risk persisted after adjustments of potential confounders (aOR 6.31). Adjusted models also suggested increased low birth weight risk (aOR 1.67).
Conclusion:
This study highlights an association between prenatal cannabis use and elevated risks for fetal death and low birth weight.
