About 40% of pregnant participants chose "not sure" when asked about the risks of weekly cannabis use during pregnancy, and CBD uncertainty was even higher.
OB-GYN providers, public health communicators, pregnant individuals seeking information about cannabis
What the researchers found
Among 261 women surveyed, there was no significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant participants in how they perceived the risks of cannabis or CBD use during pregnancy. The most common response for both groups was "not sure." Focus groups revealed that participants saw cannabis as fundamentally different from alcohol or other drugs and felt legalization signaled safety.
Why it matters
High uncertainty about cannabis and CBD risks during pregnancy, even among currently pregnant women, suggests a major gap in patient education. The finding that legalization itself shapes safety perceptions adds a policy dimension to the communication challenge.
The numbers in context
261 survey respondents (75.9% currently pregnant); 40% of pregnant participants said "not sure" about weekly cannabis risk; 52.3% of pregnant participants said "not sure" about weekly CBD risk; ever-use: 36% of pregnant vs 65.5% of non-pregnant for cannabis
How the study worked
Multi-method study combining a cross-sectional survey (261 respondents from outpatient obstetrics clinics) with five focus group discussions (17 participants total), conducted October 2022 to February 2023. Chi-square analysis compared risk perceptions between pregnant and non-pregnant participants.
What this study cannot tell us
Convenience sample from a single geographic area. Self-report data subject to social desirability bias. Small focus group sample. Cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
How to read the evidence
Preliminary: convenience sample from limited clinics, cross-sectional design, and small qualitative component.
When this study was published
2025 study with data collected 2022-2023
The bigger picture
As cannabis legalization expands, the gap between medical guidance (which advises against use in pregnancy) and public perception (which increasingly views cannabis as benign) may widen. This study highlights the disconnect.
Questions still open
- What messaging strategies most effectively communicate uncertainty about cannabis safety in pregnancy?
- Does CBD-specific uncertainty lead to higher CBD use rates during pregnancy?
Read the original research
Perception of Risks of Cannabis and Cannabidiol Use during Pregnancy: A Multi-Methods Study.
Medical cannabis and cannabinoids, 8(1), 130-143
Citation
Goodin, Amie; Varma, Deepthi S; Dhillon, Karamveer; Kaleem, Sahar; Dubare, Sonila; Jennings, Alexis; Goldberger, Bruce A; Roussos-Ross, Kay. (2025). Perception of Risks of Cannabis and Cannabidiol Use during Pregnancy: A Multi-Methods Study.. Medical cannabis and cannabinoids, 8(1), 130-143. https://doi.org/10.1159/000546312
Explore the wider topic
- How to Talk to Your Teenager About Weed (Without Losing Them)
- My Kid's Friends Smoke Weed: A Parent's Guide
- I Smoke Weed But Don't Want My Kids To: Navigating the Hypocrisy
- Quitting Weed as a Parent: Why It Is the Hardest and Most Important Quit
- Quitting Weed as a Teen or Young Adult
- My Kid Is Smoking Weed: A Parent's Guide