Among 59 pregnant people who had used cannabis during pregnancy, 61% reported past-month use, with more than half of those using daily and many citing multiple failed quit attempts.
Obstetricians, prenatal care providers, addiction researchers, pregnant people considering cannabis use
61% of pregnant cannabis users in the study continued using, with 54% of those using daily
What the researchers found
61% reported current (past 30-day) cannabis use during pregnancy. Of those, 54% used daily and 85% used on at least 15 of the past 30 days. Having five or more motivations for use made someone over 10 times more likely to be a current user.
Why it matters
Prenatal cannabis use is increasing, but little research examines why pregnant people continue using despite known risks. This study reveals that most users in the sample had tried to quit and failed, suggesting cannabis use in pregnancy often reflects dependence rather than casual choice.
The numbers in context
59 participants; 61% current use; 54% of current users reported daily use; 85% used at least 15 of past 30 days; 5+ motivations for use = 10x higher odds of current use; many reported unsuccessful quit attempts
How the study worked
59 people who used cannabis at least once during their current pregnancy were recruited from prenatal clinics and surveyed about use patterns, motivations, reasons for abstinence, tobacco co-use, and quit attempts.
What this study cannot tell us
Small sample (59 participants), recruited from prenatal clinics (may not represent all pregnant cannabis users), self-report measures, no biological verification of use, cross-sectional design cannot track changes over pregnancy
How to read the evidence
Small cross-sectional survey from prenatal clinics; provides useful descriptive data but limited generalizability
When this study was published
Published 2025
The bigger picture
The framing of prenatal cannabis use as a simple lifestyle choice may miss the reality that many pregnant users are struggling with dependence and have tried unsuccessfully to stop, pointing to a need for supportive cessation resources rather than judgment.
Questions still open
- What cessation support do pregnant cannabis users need? Are current prenatal care protocols addressing cannabis dependence? Do motivations for use differ by trimester?
Common questions
How common is daily cannabis use during pregnancy?
Why do some pregnant people continue using cannabis?
Read the original research
Cannabis use patterns, motivations, and reasons for abstinence in pregnancy.
Frontiers in psychiatry, 16, 1613324
Citation
Blair, Lisa M; Shukla, Meghna; Kurzer, Julie A M J; Schilt-Solberg, Marvin; Strickland, Biyyiah A; Akter, Salma; Fend, Dennette; Hamann, Kimberly; Ashford, Kristin. (2025). Cannabis use patterns, motivations, and reasons for abstinence in pregnancy.. Frontiers in psychiatry, 16, 1613324. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1613324
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