New study shows alarming rise in marijuana use among pregnant women

A new study from the University of Georgia College of Public Health shows that the use of marijuana during pregnancy has risen over the past two decades, with an alarming six percent (6%) of pregnant women in the study reporting use. Numerous medical organizations report that such use could have adverse effects on the preborn child.

Of 4,338 pregnant mothers involved in the study, 5.7% reported using marijuana during the last month. Of those, nearly 6%, 70% “perceived little to no risk associated with marijuana use during pregnancy.” Lead researcher Mohammad Rifat Haider said the findings reflect the need for more education about the potential risks of marijuana use during pregnancy. He noted that many of the women reported using the drug to help combat morning sickness.

“Marijuana is seen as a cure for nausea, but that’s not the way it should be dealt with in pregnancy because it is harmful for the mother and the fetus,” Haider said.

The study noted that two out of three of the reported users lived in states where medical marijuana is legal, leading to the likelihood that it will be more easily attainable.

“When medical marijuana is available, when it is legal, it is available in the pharmacy. It is widely available,” Haider said. “So we need to be extra cautious in those states and make solid policy that helps make pregnant women aware of the detrimental effects of marijuana use.”

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Marijuana use can negatively impact the preborn child’s development. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies show that use during pregnancy could result in “problems with attention, memory, problem-solving skills, and behavior in their children later in life.” Some research also shows that it could cause lower birth weight and abnormal neurological development in a young child.

The increasing rate of marijuana use can be seen in contrast with smoking during pregnancy, which has long been recognized as harmful to the preborn child. According to the CDC, from 2016 to 2021, the percentage of mothers who smoked cigarettes during pregnancy declined by more than one-third, from 7.2% to 4.6%. While there is no definitive data to show the reason for the decline, the abundance of public information campaigns about the harms of smoking may very well have contributed to the decrease.

Study authors say that such a strengthened education campaign is now necessary to show pregnant women that marijuana use is harmful to their babies.

“Long story short, this is a very vulnerable population, and evidence shows that during pregnancy, marijuana use is detrimental for both mother and child,” Haider said. “There needs to be policy direction from the state to have these discussions.”

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