Morning sickness was linked to cannabis use during pregnancy in a Michigan sample
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy was associated with prenatal cannabis use in a Michigan cohort, with cannabis potency increasing and risk perception decreasing in the context of state-level legalization.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Women experiencing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy were more likely to use cannabis prenatally. The study documented increasing cannabis potency and decreasing risk perception alongside state-level recreational legalization.
Key Numbers
Over 70% of pregnancies experience nausea and vomiting. Cannabis potency (THC concentration) increased from 10% in 2009 to 14% in 2019. State-level legalization may contribute to increased use and reduced risk perception.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of a Michigan pregnancy cohort. Assessed associations between nausea/vomiting of pregnancy and prenatal cannabis use. Contextualized within trends of increasing THC potency and changing legalization landscape.
Why This Research Matters
Morning sickness is a primary reason pregnant women report using cannabis. Understanding this connection is important as legalization reduces perceived risk and cannabis potency increases.
The Bigger Picture
The convergence of severe morning sickness, increasing cannabis potency, state legalization, and decreasing risk perception creates a perfect storm for rising prenatal cannabis exposure. Clinical guidance has not kept pace with these trends.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether nausea caused cannabis use or other factors explain both. Michigan-specific findings may not generalize. Self-reported cannabis use likely underestimates prevalence. Does not assess neonatal outcomes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do safe and effective alternatives for severe morning sickness reduce prenatal cannabis use?
- ?Does increasing THC potency change the risk profile for fetal exposure compared to lower-potency products?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis THC potency rose from 10% (2009) to 14% (2019)
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional study documenting an association. Cannot establish direction of causation.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and prenatal cannabis use in a Michigan sample.
- Published In:
- American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM, 5(12), 101171 (2023)
- Authors:
- Vanderziel, Alyssa(5), Anthony, James C(4), Barondess, David(2), Kerver, Jean M, Alshaarawy, Omayma
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04995
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do pregnant women use cannabis for morning sickness?
Morning sickness is one of the most commonly cited reasons for cannabis use during pregnancy. This study found an association between nausea/vomiting of pregnancy and prenatal cannabis use, though it cannot prove that morning sickness caused the cannabis use.
Is cannabis safe for morning sickness?
There is no established evidence that cannabis is safe for use during pregnancy for any reason, including nausea. While some pregnant people report it helps with symptoms, the potential effects on fetal development remain a concern, particularly as THC potency in available products continues to increase.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04995APA
Vanderziel, Alyssa; Anthony, James C; Barondess, David; Kerver, Jean M; Alshaarawy, Omayma. (2023). Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and prenatal cannabis use in a Michigan sample.. American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM, 5(12), 101171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101171
MLA
Vanderziel, Alyssa, et al. "Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and prenatal cannabis use in a Michigan sample.." American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101171
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and prenatal cannabis use i..." RTHC-04995. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/vanderziel-2023-nausea-and-vomiting-of
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.