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Expectant mothers using cannabis edibles may be unwittingly altering their babies’ lung development, according to pioneering research that offers the clearest evidence yet of marijuana’s potentially lasting impact on newborn respiratory health.
The study, published this month in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, used rhesus macaques to track precisely what happens when developing fetuses are exposed to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis products.
Researchers found significant reductions in lung volume and function in infants exposed to THC before birth, with changes beginning as early as the second trimester and persisting after birth – a warning sign that could have implications for millions of children as cannabis use during pregnancy continues to rise.
Although THC-exposed babies appeared normal at birth, sophisticated testing at six months of age revealed troubling differences in their respiratory systems. Most notably, these infants had significantly reduced functional residual capacity – the amount of air that remains in the lungs after normal exhalation – a critical measure of lung function.
The researchers noted that these early changes are concerning because they may have lasting effects: “Children born with decreased lung function at birth are more likely to follow a lower trajectory of lung function as they age, increasing their risk to develop respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as adults.”
Beyond just measuring lung volume, researchers performed detailed molecular analysis of the infants’ lung tissue. They discovered changes in over 700 genes in THC-exposed babies, many related to lung development and immune function. Perhaps most concerning was a significant decrease in crucial growth factors needed for proper lung development, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor-basic, and vascular endothelial growth factor.
The sophisticated research approach allowed scientists to overcome limitations that have plagued human studies on cannabis use during pregnancy, including self-reporting biases, variations in cannabis products, and ethical constraints on obtaining tissue samples.
The research team led by Dr. Lyndsey Shorey-Kendrick used advanced MRI techniques to monitor fetal lung development during pregnancy, finding nonsignificant decreases in lung volume, perfusion, and oxygen availability as early as gestational day 110 – equivalent to the late second trimester in humans.
“There are several key findings that highlight the potential adverse impact of THC exposure on offspring lung function and development,” the researchers wrote in their paper. The results suggest “prenatal THC exposure may have an important influence on future respiratory health, and further studies in human populations are needed.”
Cannabis is already the most commonly used federally illegal drug during pregnancy, with usage rates climbing as more states legalize recreational marijuana and more pregnant individuals perceive it as safe for managing pregnancy symptoms.
The research specifically focused on edibles – the second most common form of cannabis consumption in pregnancy after smoking – and used dosing equivalent to what the researchers described as a “heavy human medical cannabis dose.” This allowed scientists to isolate THC’s direct effects without the additional complications of smoke inhalation.
What makes this study particularly valuable is its use of rhesus macaques, which share remarkably similar lung development patterns with humans – unlike mice and rats, whose lungs are still immature at birth. The primate model provides a more accurate window into what might be happening in human pregnancies.
While the researchers acknowledge the study’s small sample size – a common limitation in primate research – they note that the consistency of findings across multiple measures strengthens their conclusions.
“Although the results presented herein are not definitive, they raise clear concerns for potential effects of maternal THC edible consumption on offspring respiratory health,” the study authors concluded.
The findings raise particular concerns about the potential long-term respiratory health of children exposed to cannabis before birth. Children born with decreased lung function typically continue on a lower trajectory of lung function throughout life, potentially increasing their vulnerability to respiratory diseases later in life.
As cannabis products become increasingly potent and widely available, these results add urgency to the need for evidence-based recommendations on cannabis use during pregnancy – something currently hampered by federal restrictions on research.
For now, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to recommend that pregnant individuals avoid cannabis in all forms, advice that this new research appears to strongly support.
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