No known safe level of cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding
A review for obstetric providers concluded that in utero cannabis exposure is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes persisting into young adulthood, and cannabis should not be used to treat pregnancy nausea.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In utero cannabis exposure has been associated with long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes that persist into young adulthood. Cannabis should not be used to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Chronic cannabis use might lead to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. There is no known safe level of cannabis use during pregnancy or lactation.
Key Numbers
No specific incidence or outcome data pooled.
How They Did This
Literature review using Ovid MEDLINE searching pregnancy, cannabis, lactation, and cannabinoid hyperemesis terms.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in pregnancy, and some women use it specifically for morning sickness, making clear clinical guidance essential.
The Bigger Picture
The association of cannabis with neurodevelopmental effects into young adulthood suggests effects may not be apparent in the newborn period but emerge over years of development.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review. Underlying studies are mostly observational with confounders. No randomized data on pregnancy outcomes.
Questions This Raises
- ?What are the specific neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with prenatal exposure?
- ?Are there dose thresholds below which effects are not detected?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Neurodevelopmental effects persist into young adulthood
- Evidence Grade:
- Clinical guidance review synthesizing available observational evidence.
- Study Age:
- 2020 review.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Published In:
- Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 66(2), 98-103 (2020)
- Authors:
- Badowski, Sophia, Smith, Graeme
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02406
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use cannabis for morning sickness?
This review concluded cannabis should not be used for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, citing associations with neurodevelopmental effects and no known safe level of use.
Does cannabis pass to the baby during breastfeeding?
Yes, cannabis compounds can be transmitted through breast milk. The review advises abstaining from cannabis while breastfeeding.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02406APA
Badowski, Sophia; Smith, Graeme. (2020). Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum.. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 66(2), 98-103.
MLA
Badowski, Sophia, et al. "Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum.." Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 2020.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum." RTHC-02406. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/badowski-2020-cannabis-use-during-pregnancy
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.