Pregnant Cannabis Users Say Legalization Made Access Easier and Reduced Stigma
In focus groups with 53 pregnant individuals who used cannabis, participants described legalization as making cannabis easier to access, more socially accepted, and positioned cannabis retailers as trusted sources of information.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Three major themes emerged: easier access (via retailers and delivery services), greater acceptance (reduced stigma and more willingness to discuss use with healthcare providers), and trust in cannabis retailers (perceived as knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, and caring). Responses were mixed about whether marketing influenced prenatal use and whether legalization reduced fears about Child Protective Services involvement.
Key Numbers
53 participants (mean age 30.3 years); 43% Black, 57% White; 30% still using at recruitment; 18 focus groups conducted November-December 2021
How They Did This
Qualitative study with 18 semi-structured focus groups conducted via video platform in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Participants were Black and White pregnant individuals who self-reported cannabis use during early pregnancy. Thematic analysis used to identify major themes.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding how pregnant people perceive legalization reveals potential pathways through which policy changes affect prenatal cannabis use. The finding that pregnant users trust cannabis retailers more than health messaging suggests a disconnect in health communication.
The Bigger Picture
Prenatal cannabis use is increasing in legalized states. If pregnant people view cannabis retailers as trustworthy health advisors and perceive reduced barriers to use, public health messaging about prenatal cannabis risks may need to be redesigned to compete with these new information sources.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Qualitative study cannot quantify the impact of legalization on use rates. Limited to Black and White participants in Northern California. Participants were already cannabis users, so findings may not reflect perspectives of non-users. Focus groups may introduce social desirability bias.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could cannabis retailers be enlisted as partners in prenatal health messaging?
- ?How do perceptions differ in states with only medical legalization?
- ?Would requiring pregnancy-specific warnings at dispensaries affect use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 53 pregnant participants
- Evidence Grade:
- Qualitative study providing in-depth perspectives but limited to a specific population in one health system
- Study Age:
- 2022 study
- Original Title:
- Perceptions About Cannabis Following Legalization Among Pregnant Individuals With Prenatal Cannabis Use in California.
- Published In:
- JAMA network open, 5(12), e2246912 (2022)
- Authors:
- Young-Wolff, Kelly C(42), Foti, Tara R(6), Green, Andrea(6), Altschuler, Andrea, Does, Monique B, Jackson-Morris, Melanie, Adams, Sara R, Ansley, Deborah, Conway, Amy, Goler, Nancy, Mian, Maha N, Iturralde, Esti
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04323
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did legalization increase cannabis use during pregnancy?
This study explored perceptions rather than measuring use rates. Participants described legalization as reducing barriers and stigma, which they said made prenatal cannabis use easier, but the study did not quantify changes in use.
Why do pregnant people trust cannabis retailers?
Participants described retailer employees as knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, and caring, in contrast to healthcare settings where they sometimes felt judged for their cannabis use.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04323APA
Young-Wolff, Kelly C; Foti, Tara R; Green, Andrea; Altschuler, Andrea; Does, Monique B; Jackson-Morris, Melanie; Adams, Sara R; Ansley, Deborah; Conway, Amy; Goler, Nancy; Mian, Maha N; Iturralde, Esti. (2022). Perceptions About Cannabis Following Legalization Among Pregnant Individuals With Prenatal Cannabis Use in California.. JAMA network open, 5(12), e2246912. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.46912
MLA
Young-Wolff, Kelly C, et al. "Perceptions About Cannabis Following Legalization Among Pregnant Individuals With Prenatal Cannabis Use in California.." JAMA network open, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.46912
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Perceptions About Cannabis Following Legalization Among Preg..." RTHC-04323. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/young-wolff-2022-perceptions-about-cannabis-following
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.