How Pregnant Cannabis Users Consume: Smoking Most Common, With Sociodemographic Differences | Research

The takeaway

Among 3,507 pregnant cannabis users in California, smoking was the most common mode (71%), followed by edibles (33%) and vaping (22%), with significant racial and socioeconomic differences in consumption methods.

OB-GYNs, public health professionals, harm reduction advocates, and researchers studying prenatal cannabis exposure.

What the researchers found

Smoking predominated (71.1%), but nearly 30% used multiple modes. Those who dabbed (54.3%) or used multiple modes (45.3%) were most likely to use daily. Smoking was more common among younger, Black, and disadvantaged populations, while edibles were more common among older and higher-SES groups.

Why it matters

Different consumption methods carry different risks during pregnancy — smoking adds combustion byproducts, edibles have prolonged THC exposure, and dabbing involves high-potency concentrates. Understanding who uses which method enables targeted harm reduction.

The numbers in context

3,507 pregnancies. Smoking: 71.1%, edibles: 32.6%, vaping: 22.2%, dabs: 9.9%, topicals: 4.6%. Multiple modes: 29.9%. Daily use: dabbers 54.3%, multi-mode 45.3%, edible-only 28.2%.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study of 3,507 pregnancies (2021-2022) in Kaiser Permanente Northern California with self-reported prenatal cannabis modes of use during universal screening at prenatal care entry.

What this study cannot tell us

Single healthcare system in California. Self-reported modes may be subject to social desirability. Cannot determine whether modes changed during pregnancy. No outcome data linked to specific modes.

How to read the evidence

Large sample with detailed mode-of-use data from universal screening, though single-system and cross-sectional design limit generalizability.

When this study was published

Recent study (2021-2022) capturing current consumption patterns in a legalized market.

The bigger picture

Harm reduction for prenatal cannabis use requires understanding consumption methods, not just frequency. The sociodemographic differences suggest that interventions must be culturally tailored and address access inequities.

Questions still open

Do different consumption modes carry different risks for fetal outcomes? Would targeted harm reduction messaging about switching modes be more effective than abstinence-only messaging?

Common questions

How do pregnant women typically use cannabis?

Smoking is by far the most common method (71%), followed by edibles (33%) and vaping (22%). About 30% use cannabis in more than one way.

Are some methods safer during pregnancy?

This study didn't measure outcomes by method, but health experts generally consider non-combustion methods (edibles, topicals) less harmful than smoking due to avoiding combustion byproducts — though THC exposure remains a concern regardless.

Read the original research

Sociodemographic differences in modes of cannabis use among pregnant individuals in Northern California.

Drug and alcohol dependence, 267, 112546

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Young-Wolff, Kelly C; Cortez, Catherine A; Nugent, Joshua R; Padon, Alisa A; Prochaska, Judith J; Adams, Sara R; Slama, Natalie E; Soroosh, Aurash J; Does, Monique B; Campbell, Cynthia I; Ansley, Deborah; Castellanos, Carley; Brown, Qiana L. (2025). Sociodemographic differences in modes of cannabis use among pregnant individuals in Northern California.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 267, 112546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112546