An investigation of prenatal cannabis exposure and minor physical anomalies in a low risk population

The offspring of 25 cannabis using women and the offspring of 25 matched controls were examined for the presence of a number of minor physical anomalies (MPA's). None of the anomalies noted occurred more frequently among the offspring of cannabis users. The number of anomalies present in an individual was not correlated with any of the maternal variables of cannabis, nicotine, or alcohol use or with maternal nutritional status during the first trimester. Children with 'high' anomaly scores (i.e., more than three anomalies) had not experienced more fetal distress or neonatal difficulty than had children with low anomaly scores. Although a pattern of anomalies was not detected among the offspring of cannabis users, two anomalies, true ocular hypertelorism and severe epicanthus, were found only among children of heavy users of cannabis.