Cannabis consumption during pregnancy increases aggressiveness in children

Pregnant woman consumes the drug cannabis )kcotS ebodASOIDUTS DLEIFTHGIL(Photo: ©

Children exposed to the drug cannabis in the womb are more aggressive, have poorer impulse control and have difficulty concentrating.

Columbus (U.S.A.). Cannabis has been legalized in many states in the USA for several years. Many people, including expectant mothers, use the drug to relieve stress and anxiety. A study from the Icahn School of Medicine and the City University of New York recently showed that this can make the child more susceptible to aggression, anxiety, hyperactivity and stress.

Researcher of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital have now re-examined whether and how cannabis consumption during pregnancy affects the baby. According to their publication in the specialist magazine JAMA Pediatrics They discovered that exposure to cannabis before birth can disrupt children’s development.

Higher aggressiveness caused by cannabis

To study the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy, researchers used multiple assessment methods, including surveying parents about their children’s typical behavior and measuring impulse control, concentration, problem-solving and emotion management skills in preschool children.

The results show that children exposed to the drug in utero had greater difficulty controlling their impulses, concentrating and planning, and were more aggressive when researchers observed their behavior while playing in a laboratory setting. According to the scientists, these are skills and behaviors that are essential for children’s academic success and healthy social interactions.

“Our results were not surprising – they actually confirm and extend long-standing findings from previous research. With our more contemporary and diverse sample of women and children, as well as the significantly higher potency of cannabis compared to previous decades, this study confirms previous research and supports existing clinical recommendations for patients.”

JAMA Pediatrics, doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.4352