Scientists from Western University, Canada hypothesized that maternal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) during pregnancy will impair fetal development, leading to cardiac dysfunction in the offspring.
Lee, K., Laviolette, S.R. & Hardy, D.B. Exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol during rat pregnancy leads to impaired cardiac dysfunction in postnatal life. Pediatr Res (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01511-9
So they administered 3 mg/kg of Δ9-THC or saline as a vehicle daily to pregnant Wistar rats via intraperitoneal injection from gestational days 6 to 22, followed by echocardiogram analysis of cardiac function on offspring at postnatal days 1 and 21. Also the offspring’s heart tissue was harvested at 3 weeks for molecular analysis of cardiac remodeling.
As expected, the researchers confirmed that exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) during pregancy leads to fetal growth restriction.
Full spectrum cannabis extract
However, this experiment, which Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is administered alone, is flawed as Δ9-THC should be used alongside with other cannabinoids which are the lubricants. Therefore, experiments with full spectrum cannabis(hemp) extract including THC and CBD should also be conducted to confirm the stability of administration.
While history proves cannabis were not dangerous for pregnant women, however, chronic consumption of cannabis may not be beneficial especially to the baby. The reason is because pregnancy requires a change inside woman’s body, but cannabis and cannabinoids are strong homeostasis agents, so it could restrict the fetal growth.
KIM, Han Kuk 