Young pregnant and parenting sexual minority people described cannabis use as driven by stress and mental health rather than sexuality, and most tried to reduce or quit during pregnancy but some struggled to do so.
Prenatal care providers, LGBTQ+ health researchers, substance use counselors
Cannabis use was driven by mental health and stress, not sexual identity, across all participants
What the researchers found
Three themes emerged: (1) cannabis use was contextually adaptive, changing with social situation, mental health, and stress but not directly related to sexuality; (2) pregnancy served as a potential turning point, with most trying to reduce or abstain; (3) facilitating factors for reduction included focusing on financial costs, social environment changes, health guidance access, and replacement hobbies.
Why it matters
Sexual minority young people have higher rates of both cannabis use and unintended pregnancy than heterosexual peers, yet are rarely studied in prenatal substance use research. Understanding their specific experiences can inform more inclusive prenatal interventions.
The numbers in context
13 participants; cannabis use driven by stress/mental health rather than sexuality; most tried to reduce/quit during pregnancy; some continued to address pregnancy symptoms; facilitating factors included financial awareness, social changes, health guidance, replacement activities
How the study worked
Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 13 sexual minority participants from the YoungMoms study who used cannabis before or during pregnancy. Data analyzed using thematic analysis.
What this study cannot tell us
Very small sample (13 participants), qualitative design not generalizable, participants from one study cohort, sexual minority identity encompasses diverse experiences, recall bias about prenatal behaviors
How to read the evidence
Very small qualitative study from one cohort; provides novel perspectives but extremely limited generalizability
When this study was published
Published 2025
The bigger picture
Prenatal substance use interventions are typically designed for heterosexual women. This study suggests that while pregnancy can motivate cannabis reduction for sexual minority people similarly, their underlying reasons for use (higher stress, mental health burden) may require additional support.
Questions still open
- Would targeted interventions addressing the specific stressors faced by sexual minority pregnant people be more effective? How do quit rates during pregnancy compare between sexual minority and heterosexual populations? Do the identified facilitating factors apply across diverse sexual minority communities?
Common questions
Does pregnancy motivate cannabis reduction in sexual minority people?
Is cannabis use among sexual minority people related to their sexuality?
Read the original research
Exploring Peripartum Cannabis Use Among Young Sexual Minority People: A Qualitative Study.
Substance use & addiction journal, 46(3), 559-569
Citation
Boss, Nicole; Frankeberger, Jessica; Hossain, Fahmida; Mark, Elyse; Coulter, Robert W S; De Genna, Natacha M. (2025). Exploring Peripartum Cannabis Use Among Young Sexual Minority People: A Qualitative Study.. Substance use & addiction journal, 46(3), 559-569. https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342241310950
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