One in five pregnant women reported using CBD-only products
CBD-only product use was nearly twice as common among pregnant women (20.4%) as non-pregnant women (11.3%), with anxiety, pain, and depression as top reasons for use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Prevalence of CBD-only use in pregnant women was 20.4% vs. 11.3% in non-pregnant women (p<0.001). Top reasons among pregnant women: anxiety (58.4%), pain (52.3%), depression (40.3%), PTSD (32.1%), headache (35.6%), nausea/vomiting (31.9%).
Key Numbers
66,457 women surveyed, 1,096 pregnant. CBD-only use: 20.4% pregnant vs. 11.3% non-pregnant (p<0.001). Anxiety 58.4%, pain 52.3%, depression 40.3%, PTSD 32.1%.
How They Did This
International Cannabis Policy Study (2019-2021), repeated cross-sectional survey of 66,457 women ages 16-65 in the US and Canada, including 1,096 pregnant women. Compared CBD-only use patterns and reasons.
Why This Research Matters
Many people assume CBD is safer than THC during pregnancy because it is non-psychoactive, but there is almost no safety data for prenatal CBD exposure. The 20% prevalence among pregnant women signals an urgent need for research.
The Bigger Picture
CBD is widely marketed as a wellness product with minimal risks, and pregnant women appear to be using it frequently for symptoms that are common in pregnancy. The absence of safety data for prenatal CBD exposure makes this a significant blind spot in public health.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported survey data. Cannot verify actual CBD product contents or purity. Cross-sectional design cannot determine when during pregnancy use occurs. CBD product quality varies widely in consumer market.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is prenatal CBD exposure safe for fetal development?
- ?Are CBD-only products truly THC-free, or do mislabeled products expose pregnancies to THC?
- ?Should CBD products carry pregnancy warnings?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 20.4% of pregnant women used CBD
- Evidence Grade:
- Large population survey with clear prevalence data, but self-reported use and cross-sectional design limit insights into safety.
- Study Age:
- 2024 analysis of International Cannabis Policy Study data from 2019-2021
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol-Only Product Use in Pregnancy in the United States and Canada: Findings From the International Cannabis Policy Study.
- Published In:
- Obstetrics and gynecology, 144(2), 156-159 (2024)
- Authors:
- Bhatia, Devika(3), Battula, Sharonya, Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan(2), Sakai, Joseph, Hammond, David
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05137
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBD safe during pregnancy?
Unknown. There is almost no safety data on prenatal CBD exposure. This study found 1 in 5 pregnant women use CBD-only products, highlighting a significant gap between use prevalence and safety knowledge.
Why are pregnant women using CBD?
Top reasons included anxiety (58.4%), pain (52.3%), depression (40.3%), and nausea/vomiting (31.9%), all common pregnancy symptoms that women may seek to manage without prescription medications.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05137APA
Bhatia, Devika; Battula, Sharonya; Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan; Sakai, Joseph; Hammond, David. (2024). Cannabidiol-Only Product Use in Pregnancy in the United States and Canada: Findings From the International Cannabis Policy Study.. Obstetrics and gynecology, 144(2), 156-159. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000005603
MLA
Bhatia, Devika, et al. "Cannabidiol-Only Product Use in Pregnancy in the United States and Canada: Findings From the International Cannabis Policy Study.." Obstetrics and gynecology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000005603
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol-Only Product Use in Pregnancy in the United Stat..." RTHC-05137. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bhatia-2024-cannabidiolonly-product-use-in
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.