Mystery calls to 104 Arizona dispensaries found 71% of budtenders recommended cannabis products for morning sickness, especially CBD and edibles, with only 35% proactively suggesting medical consultation.
Pregnant individuals, OB/GYN nurses and clinicians, and policymakers regulating dispensaries.
71% recommended cannabis for morning sickness, but only 35% proactively suggested seeing a doctor
What the researchers found
71.2% of budtenders recommended cannabis products for morning sickness, particularly CBD products and edibles. Some recommended inhalation products (12.2%) and tinctures (18.9%). While 85.6% eventually encouraged medical consultation, only 34.6% did so without prompting. A few (5.4%) recommended topical products.
Why it matters
Morning sickness is common and distressing, but cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes. Budtenders actively recommending cannabis for morning sickness without proactively suggesting medical consultation could put pregnant consumers and their babies at risk.
The numbers in context
104 budtenders called, 67% response rate. 71.2% recommended cannabis products. Products recommended: CBD, edibles (most common), tinctures (18.9%), inhalation (12.2%), topicals (5.4%). Medical consultation: 85.6% encouraged when asked, but only 34.6% proactively.
How the study worked
Descriptive observational study using mystery calling. Two researchers called 104 Arizona dispensaries between February-April 2024, asking about morning sickness management and documenting budtender responses on standardized forms.
What this study cannot tell us
Arizona only, which may not represent other states. Mystery calling captures initial phone interactions, not in-person consultations. Cannot determine what information was communicated beyond the scripted scenario. 67% response rate means one-third of dispensaries were not reached.
How to read the evidence
Preliminary: mystery-call methodology in one state with standardized but limited interaction, capturing phone recommendations that may differ from in-person encounters.
When this study was published
2025 study (calls February-April 2024).
The bigger picture
This mirrors the broader pattern of budtenders providing health recommendations beyond their training. With prenatal cannabis use increasing and evidence of fetal harm growing, the gap between dispensary recommendations and medical evidence is particularly concerning.
Questions still open
- Should states require pregnancy-specific warnings at dispensaries? Would mandated budtender training on pregnancy risks change recommendation patterns? How do these recommendations influence pregnant consumers' decisions?
Common questions
Is cannabis safe for morning sickness?
What products were most recommended?
Read the original research
Recommendations From Arizona Budtenders to Mystery Callers Regarding Morning Sickness.
Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN, 54(3), 282-287.e1
Citation
Madson, Michael J; Srivastava, Unnati; Gade, Yoshita. (2025). Recommendations From Arizona Budtenders to Mystery Callers Regarding Morning Sickness.. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN, 54(3), 282-287.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2025.02.001
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