Survey: 92% of Medical Cannabis Users Who Tried It for Morning Sickness Rated It Effective | Research

The takeaway

A survey of 84 female medical cannabis users found 65% had used cannabis during pregnancy, and of those who used it specifically for nausea and vomiting, 92% rated it "extremely effective" or "effective."

Read this if you want to understand what medical cannabis users report about using cannabis for pregnancy nausea, keeping in mind this study does not address fetal safety.

92% of users who tried cannabis for morning sickness rated it effective, but fetal safety was not studied

What the researchers found

Researchers surveyed 84 female medical cannabis users recruited through two compassion societies in British Columbia, Canada. Of the 79 who had experienced pregnancy, 51 (65%) reported using cannabis during their pregnancies.

Seventy-seven percent of those who had been pregnant experienced nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy. Of the 40 women (68% of those with nausea) who used cannabis to treat the condition, 37 (over 92%) rated it as "extremely effective" or "effective" for their symptoms.

The authors noted that 1-2% of women suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum, a life-threatening condition, and called for further investigation into cannabis therapy for severe pregnancy nausea.

Why it matters

Morning sickness affects the majority of pregnant women, and severe cases (hyperemesis gravidarum) can be life-threatening. While the survey shows high self-reported effectiveness, the safety of cannabis during pregnancy is a separate and critical concern that this study does not address.

The numbers in context

84 female medical cannabis users surveyed. 79 had been pregnant. 51 (65%) used cannabis during pregnancy. 77% experienced pregnancy nausea. 40 used cannabis for nausea. 37/40 (92%) rated it extremely effective or effective.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey of 84 female medical cannabis users recruited through two compassion societies in British Columbia, Canada. Self-reported data on cannabis use during pregnancy and effectiveness ratings for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-selected sample of existing medical cannabis users, introducing strong selection bias. No control group or blinding. Retrospective self-assessment of effectiveness is subject to recall bias and placebo effects. The study does not address safety for the fetus. Recruited from compassion societies, limiting generalizability.

How to read the evidence

Self-selected survey of existing cannabis users. Provides interesting self-report data but is not designed to assess safety or efficacy in a clinical trial sense.

When this study was published

Published in 2006. Subsequent research has raised increasing concerns about prenatal cannabis exposure effects on fetal development.

The bigger picture

This survey captures self-reported effectiveness in a self-selected population of existing medical cannabis users. The high effectiveness rating must be weighed against growing evidence that prenatal cannabis exposure may affect fetal brain development, making this a complex risk-benefit question.

Questions still open

Does the perceived effectiveness of cannabis for pregnancy nausea outweigh the potential developmental risks to the fetus? Could isolated cannabinoids (like CBD) provide anti-nausea benefits without the developmental concerns of THC?

Common questions

Does cannabis help with morning sickness?

In this survey, 92% of medical cannabis users who tried it for pregnancy nausea rated it effective. However, this was a self-selected sample of existing cannabis users with no control group, and the study did not assess fetal safety. Growing research on prenatal exposure effects makes this a complex risk-benefit question.

Is cannabis safe during pregnancy?

This survey did not assess safety. Other research has found that prenatal cannabis exposure may affect fetal brain development, with altered brain activation patterns detectable into young adulthood. Most medical organizations advise against cannabis use during pregnancy.

Read the original research

Survey of medicinal cannabis use among childbearing women: patterns of its use in pregnancy and retroactive self-assessment of its efficacy against 'morning sickness'.

Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 12(1), 27-33

View on PubMed ↗

Citation

Westfall, Rachel E; Janssen, Patricia A; Lucas, Philippe; Capler, Rielle. (2006). Survey of medicinal cannabis use among childbearing women: patterns of its use in pregnancy and retroactive self-assessment of its efficacy against 'morning sickness'.. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 12(1), 27-33.