Abstract

BACKGROUND: Marijuana is the considered the most widely available and used drug across the world. Up to this time, there have been no reports of human death directly caused by acute marijuana toxicity in adults, fetuses, or newborn neonates.

CASE REPORT: We report a death of an 11-day-old white female neonate due to acute marijuana toxicity. She died of extensive necrosis and hemorrhage of the liver and adrenals due to maternal use of marijuana.

CONCLUSIONS: This case is unique in that other possible causes of death can be eliminated. With growing use of marijuana by pregnant women and increases in newborn drug screening of umbilical cord homogenate, more cases of neonatal death due to acute marijuana toxicity could be discovered.

Keywords: Autopsy, Infant, Newborn, Marijuana Abuse, Pregnancy Complications, Death, Adrenal Gland Diseases, Cannabis, Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Fatal Outcome, perinatal death, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects