What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Pain.

Where was this research published?

Published in Journal of women's health (2002) on February 15, 2026.

Pain

Why Pregnant Women Turn to Cannabis: Motivations and Risks Revealed

Q: What did this research study find?

**82.81% of pregnant women use cannabis for mental health reasons**

Motivations for Cannabis Use During Pregnancy: An Analysis of 2017-2021 Pregnancy Assessment Monitoring System Data.

Journal of women's health (2002) • February 15, 2026 • Relevant

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AI Summary

A comprehensive study investigating cannabis use during pregnancy reveals complex motivations behind expectant mothers' consumption patterns. The research analyzed data from 802,954 live births across 10 U.S. states, uncovering that 82.81% of pregnant cannabis users reported using cannabis primarily for mental health reasons.

The study highlights that most women (84.32%) reported multiple reasons for cannabis use during pregnancy, with key motivations including alleviating pregnancy-related symptoms such as nausea, gastrointestinal issues, and pain. Interestingly, qualitative analysis showed that 54.90% of write-in responses indicated symptom management as the primary motivation, ranging from appetite regulation to addressing sleeplessness.

Despite the prevalence of cannabis use, the researchers emphasize potential health risks associated with prenatal cannabis consumption. The findings underscore the critical need for improved patient-provider communication and developing safe alternative strategies for managing pregnancy-related discomfort. This research provides crucial insights into the growing trend of cannabis use among pregnant women and calls for targeted educational interventions.

💡 Key Findings

82.81% of pregnant women use cannabis for mental health reasons

High

85%

84.32% report multiple motivations for cannabis use during pregnancy

High

80%

Top motivations include mental health, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain relief

Good

75%

📄 Original Abstract

Prenatal cannabis use is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the United States. Yet little is known about how motivations for cannabis use vary across maternal sociodemographic characteristics or how motivations are related to frequency of use. We aimed to address these evidence gaps via a comprehensive descriptive analysis of existing surveillance system data. Using data from the 2017-2021 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Marijuana Supplement, we estimated weighted prevalence estimates of self-reported motivations for cannabis use during pregnancy. We examined variations in motivations across sociodemographic characteristics and frequency of use. We also examined write-in responses for motivations for cannabis use. In our sample representing approximately 802,954 live births from 10 U.S. states, the most common motivations for prenatal cannabis use were for mental health reasons (82.81%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.52, 87.06), to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms (77.10%; 95% CI: 70.51, 82.59), to relieve pain during pregnancy (48.67%; 95% CI: 41.84, 55.56), for fun or relaxation (40.18%; 95% CI: 33.69, 47.04), and to relieve symptoms of a chronic condition (26.31%; 95% CI: 20.55, 33.01). Most women (84.32%) reported two or more reasons for use, which was associated with daily or near-daily use. Qualitative analysis of write-in responses identified alleviation of pregnancy-related symptoms (e.g., nausea/vomiting, appetite, sleeplessness) as the most common motivation for use (54.90%). Given a growing body of evidence about adverse health outcomes associated with prenatal cannabis use, findings underscore the importance of patient-provider communication and messaging about safe alternatives to cannabis use during pregnancy.