Pregnant Women With Medical Cannabis Cards Bought 137mg THC Daily on Average

What the researchers found

1,185 of 72,992 pregnancies (1.62%) included medical cannabis purchases during pregnancy. Mean daily THC purchased was 137.36mg — far above FDA-approved cannabinoid doses. Women who continued pre-pregnancy cannabis use bought 1.82x more daily THC than those who initiated during pregnancy. 65.3% were continuers, 34.7% initiated during pregnancy.

Why it matters

This is the first population-level analysis showing exactly how much THC pregnant women are purchasing. The amounts far exceed therapeutic ranges, raising concerns about fetal exposure and highlighting the need for better prenatal counseling about cannabis dosing.

The numbers in context

72,992 pregnancies. 1,185 (1.62%) with MC purchases during pregnancy. Mean daily THC: 137.36mg (SD 170.04). Continuers: 65.3%, bought 1.82x more THC than initiators. Purchasers more likely: ≥30 years (aOR=1.34), tobacco smokers (aOR=1.64). Less likely: Black (aOR=0.44), married (aOR=0.68), privately insured (aOR=0.69).

How the study worked

Descriptive analysis linking three Arkansas databases: Medical Cannabis Card Registry, Dispensary Database, and Birth Certificate Records, plus national Social Determinants of Health Database. Covered pregnancies from May 2019 to August 2022.

What this study cannot tell us

Purchases don't equal consumption — some product may be stored or shared. Arkansas may not represent other states. No birth outcome data in this analysis. Qualifying conditions for MC may confound comparisons. Can't confirm gestational timing of purchases precisely.

How to read the evidence

Unique population-level data linking registry, dispensary, and birth records — strong for describing purchasing patterns though cannot confirm actual consumption.

When this study was published

Published in 2026, the first study linking dispensary purchasing data with pregnancy records at the population level.

The bigger picture

The fact that pregnant women are purchasing THC at doses dramatically exceeding FDA-approved levels for non-pregnant adults is alarming. Current medical cannabis programs may not adequately address pregnancy-specific dosing or risks, and prenatal care providers may not be asking about medical cannabis use.

Questions still open

• What are the fetal outcomes at these THC doses? Why don't dispensaries flag purchases by pregnant women? Should medical cannabis programs have pregnancy-specific protocols?

Common questions

Read the original research

From card to cradle: examining medical cannabis purchasing among pregnant women in Arkansas.

American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM, 8(2), 101857

Citation

ElHassan, Nahed O; Farnam, Cain; Thompson, Joseph W; Stanley, Nichole; Hayes, Corey J; Li, Chenghui; Mourani, Peter M; Hudson, Teresa J; Mcgehee, Robert; Martin, Bradley C. (2026). From card to cradle: examining medical cannabis purchasing among pregnant women in Arkansas.. American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM, 8(2), 101857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajogmf.2025.101857

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