Prenatal Cannabis Use: Risks and Societal Impacts Explored

A study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine reveals that prenatal exposure to THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, can rewire the fetal brain, increasing the risk of opioid addiction later in life. The research, published in Science Advances, shows that THC exposure during pregnancy alters the brain's reward system, particularly in males, leading to heightened dopamine release and increased opioid-seeking behavior. This underscores the need for better public health education and guidelines for cannabis use during pregnancy, as well as further research into mitigating these effects.