06 Nov 2019 --- One-time exposure to cannabinoids (CBs) – both synthetic and natural – during early pregnancy, can cause growth issues in developing embryos. This is according to a new study by the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine published in Scientific Reports. It found that components of marijuana, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can cause brain and facial birth defects if used during the first trimester. The study comes as CBD’s soaring popularity is translating in NPD, albeit amid a hazy regulatory environment. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, has “strongly advised” against the use of CBD, THC and marijuana in any form during pregnancy.