Grant: Op. Gr.: Cannabis Res. in Longitudinal studies - Human Dev., Child/youth Health

Lifestyle behaviours are critical determinants of pregnancy and offspring health. Cannabis use in pregnancy is becoming more common due to accessibility, social acceptance, and environmental pressures. Existing data suggest that individuals who use cannabis during pregnancy are at risk for pregnancy complications. In addition, there are potential lasting developmental effects in their children. This project will use the Ottawa and Kingston (OaK) cohort, which includes detailed pregnancy and birth data from over 8,000 mothers and newborns in Ontario. A recent addition to the OaK dataset includes blood-based measures of mothers' cannabis exposure in pregnancy. We will investigate the association between cannabis exposure in pregnancy and delivery and newborn outcomes using these novel cannabis markers. We will also link the OaK dataset to healthcare and education datasets in Ontario. This approach will allow us to follow children over 12-18 years to monitor their health and development changes. This project will provide insight into the short- and long-term impacts of cannabis use in pregnancy on newborn and child health. We will use our findings to help inform health providers and health agencies on the risks of cannabis use in pregnancy and help pregnant individuals and their families make safe and healthy pregnancy decisions.