What Cannabis Budtenders Tell Pregnant Customers About Safety | Research

The takeaway

Only 40% of 505 California budtenders told mystery shoppers posing as pregnant that cannabis use during pregnancy was unsafe, while 21% said it was safe.

Pregnant individuals seeking cannabis advice, policymakers, cannabis industry regulators, and public health professionals.

What the researchers found

While 80% of budtenders advised against prenatal tobacco and blunt use, only 40% said prenatal cannabis use was unsafe. 21% said it was safe, and only 6% mentioned store/product warnings. Less than half recommended speaking to a physician.

Why it matters

Pregnant people often consult budtenders as trusted sources. The finding that most budtenders don't warn against prenatal cannabis use — despite medical consensus — highlights a critical gap in consumer protection and public health education.

The numbers in context

505 budtenders surveyed. 79.6% said blunts unsafe, 79.2% said tobacco unsafe, but only 40.4% said cannabis unsafe. 20.6% said cannabis was safe. Only 5.7% mentioned product warnings. 44% recommended seeing a physician.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional mystery shopper study of 505 California cannabis retailers (Feb 2024-Jan 2025), with callers posing as pregnant individuals asking about safety of prenatal blunt, tobacco, and cannabis use.

What this study cannot tell us

California-only sample. Mystery shopper scenario may not represent real customer interactions. Budtender responses may vary by training, experience, and store policy. Published in JAMA Network Open.

How to read the evidence

Large, well-designed mystery shopper study published in JAMA Network Open — strong methodology for assessing real-world retailer behavior.

When this study was published

Very recent study (2024-2025 data collection) capturing current budtender practices in the mature California cannabis market.

The bigger picture

Cannabis retailers are de facto health advisors for many consumers. The disconnect between medical recommendations and budtender advice on prenatal use represents a significant public health concern that regulation could address.

Questions still open

Should mandatory budtender training on prenatal cannabis risks be required? Would visible warning labels at point of sale change budtender advice?

Common questions

Do budtenders warn pregnant customers about cannabis risks?

Only about 40% do, compared to 80% who warn about tobacco. About 21% actively told pregnant mystery shoppers that cannabis use during pregnancy was safe.

What did budtenders recommend instead?

Some suggested low-THC products, edibles as 'safer' than smoking, and harm reduction strategies like using less frequently. Less than half recommended speaking with a physician.

Read the original research

Cannabis Retailer Advice on Blunt, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use During Pregnancy.

JAMA network open, 8(12), e2548373

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Young-Wolff, Kelly C; Does, Monique B; Negusse, Rahel; Ogden, Shannon N; Nugent, Joshua R; Silver, Lynn D; Soroosh, Aurash J; Metz, Torri D. (2025). Cannabis Retailer Advice on Blunt, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use During Pregnancy.. JAMA network open, 8(12), e2548373. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.48373