# Prenatal Cannabis: Effects on Developmental Milestones, Disinhibition, and Substance Initiation

> **NIH NIH R36** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $37,308

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Along with alcohol and tobacco, cannabis use amongst pregnant women is increasing in the United States.
Therefore, it is necessary to identify the persistent and transient effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on
neurobehavioral development and substance initiation during critical periods of development. Specifically,
developmental milestones and neurobehavioral disinhibition, independently serve as potential clinical markers
for later childhood behaviors and substance use. However, the roles of developmental milestones and
neurobehavioral disinhibition in the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and risk for
neurobehavioral dysregulation and adolescent substance initiation are largely unknown. Through the proposed
project we aim to (ia.) characterize gross motor developmental milestone attainment from ages 3 mths-2 yrs in
those exposed to prenatal cannabis to those unexposed; (ib.) evaluate milestone attainment as a mediator linking
prenatal cannabis exposure and neurobehavioral disinhibition; (iia.) evaluate the impact of prenatal cannabis
exposure on neurobehavioral disinhibition at age 9; and (iib.) examine the mediating role of neurobehavioral
disinhibition in the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and adolescent substance initiation (൑15
yrs). The proposed aims will be addressed using the nationally representative Adolescent Brain Cognitive
Development study data that includes measures of prenatal cannabis exposure, developmental milestones,
neurobehavioral disinhibition, and adolescent substance initiation. A propensity score will be used to control for
familial characteristics associated with the likelihood of being exposed to cannabis during pregnancy while
examining the direct effect of prenatal cannabis exposure on our proposed developmental outcomes. A
combination of path analysis and data reduction strategies will be employed to evaluate the direct and indirect
effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on early substance misuse. Overall, the proposed project will bridge the
gap in our current understanding of the impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure across development and how it
influences clinical markers that may aid in the early identification of children effected by prenatal cannabis
exposure as well as inform guidelines and interventions for expectant mothers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10899238
- **Project number:** 1R36DA061555-01
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ami Sala Ikeda
- **Activity code:** R36 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $37,308
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10899238

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10899238, Prenatal Cannabis: Effects on Developmental Milestones, Disinhibition, and Substance Initiation (1R36DA061555-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10899238. Licensed CC0.

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