International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review The Impact of Early Life Exposure to Cannabis: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System Annia A. Martínez-Peña 1,2,†, Genevieve A. Perono 1,2,† , Sarah Alexis Gritis 2, Reeti Sharma 3, Shamini Selvakumar 3, O’Llenecia S. Walker 2,3, Harmeet Gurm 2,3, Alison C. Holloway 1,2 and Sandeep Raha 2,3,* 1 Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
[email protected] (A.A.M.-P.);
[email protected] (G.A.P.);
[email protected] (A.C.H.) 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
[email protected] (S.A.G.);
[email protected] (O.S.W.);
[email protected] (H.G.) 3 Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
[email protected] (R.S.);
[email protected] (S.S.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-905-521-2100 (ext. 76213) † These authors contributed equally to the preparation of this manuscript. Abstract: Cannabis use during pregnancy has continued to rise, particularly in developed countries, as a result of the trend towards legalization and lack of consistent, evidence-based knowledge on the matter. While there is conflicting data regarding whether cannabis use during pregnancy leads to adverse outcomes such as stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, or increased admission to neonatal intensive care units, investigations into long-term effects on the offspring’s health are limited. Historically, studies have focused on the neurobehavioral effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on Citation: Martínez-Peña, A.A.; the offspring.