What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC.

Maternal cannabis use: No added risk for premature eye disease found

Q: What did this research study find?

**No significant difference** in *retinopathy of prematurity* (ROP) rates between infants of mothers with and without cannabis use disorder

Q: Where was this research published?

Published in Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus on February 2, 2026.

The Relationship between Maternal Cannabis Use Diagnosis and the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus • February 2, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This retrospective study examined the potential impact of maternal cannabis use disorder (CUD) on a serious eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 31,000 preterm infants born between 22 and 31 weeks of gestation, comparing those whose mothers had a diagnosed cannabis use disorder during pregnancy with those who did not.

The research found no significant difference in ROP development between the two groups. Specifically, 32.1% of infants born to mothers with CUD developed ROP, compared to 33.3% of infants born to mothers without CUD. After carefully controlling for various demographic and clinical factors, the adjusted relative risk showed no statistically meaningful variation between the two populations.

While this study provides important insights, it's crucial to note that it does not definitively prove the safety of cannabis use during pregnancy. The research adds to the ongoing scientific understanding of potential impacts of cannabis use on infant health, highlighting the need for continued careful investigation of prenatal exposure and its potential consequences.

💡 Key Findings

No significant difference in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) rates between infants of mothers with and without cannabis use disorder

High

85%

32.1% of infants exposed to maternal cannabis use developed ROP, compared to 33.3% in non-exposed group

High

90%

Adjusted relative risk of 1.0 indicates no increased or decreased ROP risk associated with maternal cannabis use

High

80%

📄 Original Abstract

To compare the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm infants born to mothers with and without a cannabis use disorder (CUD) diagnosis. This retrospective cohort study used the UC San Diego Study of Outcomes in Mothers and Infants (SOMI) population-based database and restricted the sample to infants born between 22 and <31 weeks' gestation, and/or having birth weight of <1500 g, who survived to the appropriate age for ROP screening. Infant ROP and maternal CUD during pregnancy were identified from International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes from hospital discharge records. Adjusted relative risk (aRR) of ROP was calculated using log-linear regression, comparing mothers with and without CUD while controlling for demographic and clinical factors. Of the 997 infants born between 22 and <31 weeks to mothers with CUD, 32.1% developed ROP, compared with 33.3% of the 30,1113 infants born to mothers without CUD. Adjusting for covariates, preterm infants born to mothers with CUD were not found to be at higher or lower risk of developing ROP than preterm infants born to mothers without CUD (aRR = 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9-1.1) CONCLUSIONS: In our study cohort, preterm infants born to mothers with CUD did not have an increased or decreased risk of developing ROP compared with those born to mothers without CUD.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Published: February 2, 2026
PMID: 41638301
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2026.104748

Authors (7)

Melanie Tran School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Rebecca J Baer Division of Environmental Science and Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Gretchen Bandoli Division of Environmental Science and Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA; Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Shira L Robbins Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus, Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
David Granet Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus, Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
+2 more authors