Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Was More Than Twice as Common as Cigarette Smoking in California
In California from 2017-2019, 4.9% of pregnant women used cannabis compared to 2.1% who smoked cigarettes, with cannabis use being four times more prevalent than cigarettes in Los Angeles County.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis use during pregnancy (4.9%) was more than twice as common as cigarette smoking (2.1%) in California. In some counties like Los Angeles, cannabis was four times more prevalent. Overall, 7.3% of women reported cannabis use either during or soon after pregnancy. Among tobacco smokers, 73% quit before the third trimester but 33% relapsed postpartum.
Key Numbers
4.9% prenatal cannabis use vs 2.1% cigarette smoking; 4:1 ratio in Los Angeles; 7.3% used cannabis during or after pregnancy; 73% of smokers quit by third trimester; 33% postpartum tobacco relapse
How They Did This
Population-based cross-sectional analysis using California's Maternal and Infant Health Assessment survey data pooled from 35 counties with the largest birth numbers (2017-2019). Assessed tobacco and cannabis use during and after pregnancy.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis has overtaken tobacco as the most common combustible substance used during pregnancy in California. Since public health infrastructure for prenatal tobacco cessation is well-established but prenatal cannabis cessation programs barely exist, this shift demands attention.
The Bigger Picture
The success of tobacco cessation programs during pregnancy shows that substance use in pregnancy can be addressed with proper support. Applying lessons from tobacco control to cannabis cessation could be the next frontier in prenatal public health.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported use likely underestimates actual prevalence. Survey methodology may miss marginalized populations. Three-year pooled data may mask trends. California's legal cannabis environment may differ from other states.
Questions This Raises
- ?Can tobacco cessation frameworks be adapted for prenatal cannabis use?
- ?Is the harm profile of prenatal cannabis comparable to prenatal tobacco?
- ?Will prenatal cannabis use continue to increase as legalization spreads?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 4.9% cannabis vs 2.1% cigarettes
- Evidence Grade:
- Population-based survey covering 35 California counties, but self-reported data likely underestimates true prevalence
- Study Age:
- 2023 study
- Original Title:
- Tobacco and Cannabis Use During and After Pregnancy in California.
- Published In:
- Maternal and child health journal, 27(1), 21-28 (2023)
- Authors:
- Azenkot, Tali, Dove, Melanie S, Fan, Chuncui, Valencia, Cindy V, Tong, Elisa K, Schwarz, Eleanor Bimla
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04386
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis more common than cigarettes during pregnancy?
In California, yes. Cannabis use during pregnancy (4.9%) was more than twice as common as cigarette smoking (2.1%) from 2017-2019, and the gap was even larger in some counties.
Are pregnant women quitting cannabis like they quit cigarettes?
The study did not report cannabis quit rates, but tobacco cessation rates during pregnancy were high (73% by third trimester). Whether similar programs could work for cannabis has not been established.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04386APA
Azenkot, Tali; Dove, Melanie S; Fan, Chuncui; Valencia, Cindy V; Tong, Elisa K; Schwarz, Eleanor Bimla. (2023). Tobacco and Cannabis Use During and After Pregnancy in California.. Maternal and child health journal, 27(1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03551-x
MLA
Azenkot, Tali, et al. "Tobacco and Cannabis Use During and After Pregnancy in California.." Maternal and child health journal, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03551-x
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Tobacco and Cannabis Use During and After Pregnancy in Calif..." RTHC-04386. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/azenkot-2023-tobacco-and-cannabis-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.