Pregnant people found cannabis safety information inadequate and clinicians unhelpful
In interviews with 52 pregnant and lactating cannabis users in Canada, most reported seeking risk information online because clinicians were either uninformed or judgmental, and nearly all found available information insufficient.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Participants deliberately sought information about cannabis risks during pregnancy but found it inadequate. Online sources and social networks were primary information channels. Healthcare providers were not viewed as knowledgeable or supportive sources on this topic.
Key Numbers
52 participants interviewed. Most searched for risk information. Online material and social networks were the primary sources. Clinicians were rarely described as helpful. Participants overwhelmingly described available information as insufficient.
How They Did This
Qualitative study with semi-structured interviews of 52 pregnant and lactating people in Canada who decided to start, stop, or continue cannabis use. Recruited from prenatal clinics and social media. Inductive analysis focused on information-seeking and decision-making.
Why This Research Matters
Pregnant people are making decisions about cannabis with inadequate information and without clinical support. Understanding their information needs and barriers is essential for developing better guidance.
The Bigger Picture
The disconnect between rising cannabis use in pregnancy and the lack of trustworthy information creates a vacuum filled by anecdote, marketing, and peer advice. Healthcare systems have an opportunity to step into this gap with balanced, evidence-based communication.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Qualitative study cannot quantify prevalence of information gaps. Canadian healthcare context may differ from other countries. Self-selected sample may overrepresent people motivated to seek information. Social desirability may affect interview responses.
Questions This Raises
- ?What would effective, balanced clinical communication about cannabis in pregnancy look like?
- ?Would training clinicians to discuss cannabis non-judgmentally change patient behavior?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 52 pregnant/lactating participants; most found available cannabis safety information insufficient
- Evidence Grade:
- Qualitative study with reasonable sample size. Provides important patient perspective but cannot be generalized quantitatively.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Making informed choices about cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation: A qualitative study of information use.
- Published In:
- Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 50(3), 504-512 (2023)
- Authors:
- Taneja, Shipra(2), Panday, Janelle(2), Popoola, Anuoluwa(2), Greyson, Devon, McDonald, Sarah D, Patel, Tejal, Vanstone, Meredith
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04976
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Where do pregnant people get information about cannabis?
In this study, most turned to online sources and social networks. Healthcare providers were not commonly described as useful because participants perceived them as either uninformed about cannabis or judgmental about its use during pregnancy.
What information do pregnant cannabis users want?
Participants wanted clear evidence about the impact of cannabis use, including how to balance perceived benefits (like nausea relief) with potential risks to the baby. They emphasized the need for comprehensive, trustworthy sources rather than the incomplete information they typically found.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04976APA
Taneja, Shipra; Panday, Janelle; Popoola, Anuoluwa; Greyson, Devon; McDonald, Sarah D; Patel, Tejal; Vanstone, Meredith. (2023). Making informed choices about cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation: A qualitative study of information use.. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 50(3), 504-512. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12668
MLA
Taneja, Shipra, et al. "Making informed choices about cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation: A qualitative study of information use.." Birth (Berkeley, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12668
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Making informed choices about cannabis use during pregnancy ..." RTHC-04976. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/taneja-2023-making-informed-choices-about
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.