Grant: Project Grant

With the relaxation of cannabis restrictions across North America, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of young adults (19-30 yrs of age) who report using marijuana. While the use of illicit/licit drugs in this age group is common, cannabis consumption is also becoming more common in pregnant women. Moreover, about half of cannabis users also report using alcohol while smoking/vaping, and the combination is associated with an increased risk for unplanned pregnancies. Many individuals also believe that cannabis is a safe and "natural" substance they can consume during pregnancy. In fact, the effects of Cannabis (alone and in combination with alcohol) on the developing brain remain poorly understood. Given our extensive history in using animal models to examine sex differences in FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders), and the role of cannabinoid's in synaptic plasticity, our research team is in a unique position to contribute significantly to the understanding of how cannabis (and alcohol) can impact the developing brain. In particular, this proposal also offers a creative means to assess how cannabis use during pregnancy effects synaptic plasticity in the developing hippocampus. This is a brain region known to be involved in learning and memory processes, and it is important to understand how prenatal substance exposure impacts brain development in a sex specific fashion, and if it alters the development of sexually dimorphic brain regions. In addition, our proposal will also enable us to determine how early exposure might affect the development of addictive behaviours later in life.