New Mothers Who Used Cannabis in Pregnancy Share Why They Continue Postpartum
Most postpartum individuals who frequently used cannabis during pregnancy continued using after birth, often to cope with mental health challenges and pain, while reporting minimal knowledge of risks during breastfeeding.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 17 postpartum patients who used cannabis daily or weekly in early pregnancy, 15 reported postpartum cannabis use and 10 reported use while breastfeeding. Participants wanted nonjudgmental support services and better information about cannabis risks during breastfeeding.
Key Numbers
15 of 17 participants reported postpartum cannabis use. 10 of 15 postpartum users reported cannabis use during breastfeeding. The sample included Black (n=4), Hispanic (n=4), and White (n=9) patients.
How They Did This
Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 17 first-time parents in Northern California who reported daily or weekly cannabis use during early pregnancy, analyzed using thematic analysis.
Why This Research Matters
With postpartum cannabis use rising, this study reveals a gap between what new parents want to know about cannabis and breastfeeding and what healthcare providers currently offer. Participants expressed genuine concern about safety but lacked information to make informed decisions.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that participants wanted nonjudgmental support rather than abstinence-only messaging reflects a broader shift in how perinatal care might need to approach substance use conversations. Fear of judgment currently prevents many new parents from discussing cannabis use with providers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small qualitative sample (17 interviews) from a single healthcare system in Northern California. Participants were self-selected, and findings may not reflect the broader population of postpartum cannabis users.
Questions This Raises
- ?What specific information about cannabis and breastfeeding would help parents make informed choices?
- ?Could nonjudgmental counseling reduce cannabis use during breastfeeding more effectively than current approaches?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 10 of 15 postpartum cannabis users also used while breastfeeding
- Evidence Grade:
- Small qualitative study providing rich but non-generalizable insights from a single healthcare system.
- Study Age:
- 2026 study based on 2022 interviews.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Use Behaviors and Desired Interventions Among Postpartum Individuals With Frequent Cannabis Use in Early Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.
- Published In:
- Journal of addiction medicine, 20(1), 102-108 (2026)
- Authors:
- Ogden, Shannon N(4), Foti, Tara R(6), Does, Monique B(24), Altschuler, Andrea, Iturralde, Esti, Sterling, Stacy A, Ansley, Deborah, Castellanos, Carley, Young-Wolff, Kelly C
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08528
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why did postpartum individuals continue using cannabis?
Participants reported using cannabis to cope with postpartum mental health challenges and physical pain, often because they felt it was safer than prescription alternatives.
What did participants want from healthcare providers?
Nonjudgmental support services and honest, evidence-based information about cannabis risks during breastfeeding rather than blanket abstinence messaging.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08528APA
Ogden, Shannon N; Foti, Tara R; Does, Monique B; Altschuler, Andrea; Iturralde, Esti; Sterling, Stacy A; Ansley, Deborah; Castellanos, Carley; Young-Wolff, Kelly C. (2026). Cannabis Use Behaviors and Desired Interventions Among Postpartum Individuals With Frequent Cannabis Use in Early Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.. Journal of addiction medicine, 20(1), 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001514
MLA
Ogden, Shannon N, et al. "Cannabis Use Behaviors and Desired Interventions Among Postpartum Individuals With Frequent Cannabis Use in Early Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.." Journal of addiction medicine, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001514
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Use Behaviors and Desired Interventions Among Postp..." RTHC-08528. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ogden-2026-cannabis-use-behaviors-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.