Cannabis Use in Pregnant Women Worryingly High Despite Increased Understanding of Harm on Fetuses

With the legalization of cannabis becoming more common, we have been afforded surprising new insights into consumption habits across various demographics.  For example, alcohol has begun taking a backseat to cannabis within the United States, while usage among adolescents has plummeted.  Unfortunately, one demographic of concern shows elevated consumption rates – pregnant women.  This is particularly concerning, given our increasing understanding of the risks it introduces to fetuses and children.

A Troubling Trend: Consumption During Pregnancy

While cannabis offers numerous potential benefits for adults, it is crucial to recognize that no substance is entirely risk-free.  A recent study¹ made it clear that this recognition was not as widespread as it needs to be.

In this study, published in the American Journal of Addictions, researchers analyzed data that revealed cannabis use during pregnancy has more than doubled over the past decade.  It was found that nearly 6% of the pregnant women had consumed cannabis within the past 30 days, with ~70% not associated the practice with any risks.  Of those who did consume, roughly 66% resided in states in which cannabis has been legalized.  Reasons for consumption included many reasons, including alleviating nausea, stress, and anxiety.

When looking at these reasons for consumption, it is no wonder that this is occurring.  Cannabis can indeed do wonders for alleviating these symptoms in adults.  The issue, however, lies in the potential harm being done to the fetus and the child it will grow into.

Studied Risks

So, we know cannabis consumption rates among pregnant women are worryingly high, but what are the aforementioned risks that are introduced?  Another separate study² recently brought to light various concerning results.

It found that prenatal cannabis exposure has the potential to cause both neurological and developmental harm that can eventually develop into behavioral issues such as heightened aggression and attention problems in children.  These effects were particularly pronounced when cannabis was consumed during the first trimester, as this is a critical period for fetal brain development.

These results demonstrated that prenatal cannabis exposure may be associated in early childhood with worse executive functions and more aggressive behavior, which play a critical role in academic success and adaptive behavior.

It should be noted that the associated risks may go far beyond the purview of this study – which already has concerning results – as recent developments have shown the potential for DNA alterations and more.

A Need for Caution: Cannabis Is Not Risk-Free

In many instances, cannabis can offer amazing therapeutic benefits with a risk profile more appealing than many alternatives.  There are, however, always exceptions, and in the case of pregnant women, this is one of them.  Pregnancy represents a unique physiological state in which substances consumed by the mother can have direct and sometimes long-lasting effects on the fetus.

As it stands, pregnant women are urged to seek alternative treatments for nausea, anxiety, and other symptoms that cannabis may alleviate.  To learn more about what these entail, consult with a medical professional.

Study Reference:

^{1. Haider, M. R., Karim, S., Jayawardhana, J., Hansen, N. B., & Haile, Z. T. (2024). Association between state-level medical marijuana legalization and marijuana use during pregnancy: A population-based study. The American Journal on Addictions, 34(1), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13651}

^{2. Keim, S. A., Fried, P., Yeates, K. O., et al. (2024). Prenatal cannabis exposure and executive function and aggressive behavior at age 5 years. JAMA Pediatrics, 178(12), 1316–1325. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.4352}