Developmental consequences of perinatal cannabis exposure: behavioral and neuroendocrine effects in adult rodents

Abstract Rationale: Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among pregnant women. Since the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in brain development, maternal exposure to cannabis derivatives might result in long-lasting neurobehavioral abnormalities in the exposed offspring. It is difficult to detect these effects, and their underlying neurobiological mechanisms, in clinical cohorts, because of their intrinsic methodological and interpretative issues. Objectives: The present paper reviews relevant rodent studies examining the long-term behavioral consequences of exposure to cannabinoid compounds