Mothers and Expecting Parents

While cannabis has some therapeutic properties, it is not safe for treating morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy. It can harm both the mother and baby. The U.S. Surgeon General warned that cannabis use during pregnancy may affect fetal brain development because THC can enter the fetal brain from the mother’s bloodstream.

• Effects on Fetus The Surgeon General warns that marijuana use can increase the risk of low birth weight, premature births, and stillbirths. Children exposed to cannabis in the womb are more likely to have attention, memory, and problem-solving issues.

• Effects on Mother Cannabis can cause dizziness, increasing the risk of falls, which can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. It can also impair judgment, raising the risk of injury. Smoking cannabis reduces the body’s oxygen levels, leading to breathing problems and lung damage. Regular use can cause severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, sometimes requiring emergency care.

• Effects on Breastfeeding THC is stored in fat and released slowly, remaining in breast milk for up to six days after use. This can impact a newborn’s brain development, potentially causing hyperactivity, poor cognitive function, and other long-term issues.

• No amount of cannabis has been proven safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
• There is no evidence that marijuana is helpful in managing morning sickness.
• The effects of cannabis on the fetus may occur even during the first trimester.
• Cannabis smoke contains many of the same harmful components as tobacco smoke. Neither cannabis nor tobacco products should be smoked around babies or children.
• Breathing in second-hand cannabis smoke, including from vaping, can be harmful to both mother and baby. Second-hand cannabis smoke contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for most of the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
• Consuming cannabis edibles or using topicals also puts both the mother and baby at risk.
• Breastfeeding babies can still be exposed to the chemicals in cannabis even after stopping cannabis use.
• Children whose mothers used marijuana during pregnancy may have learning and behavioral problems later in life.
• Medical cannabis is not safer than nonmedical cannabis. It is important to let your ob-gyn know if you are using medical cannabis and to discuss other treatments that are safe to use during pregnancy.

CDC: Cannabis and Pregnancy FDA Consumer Updates NIDA Marijuana Drug Facts ACOG: Marijuana and Pregnancy SAMHSA: Marijuana and Pregnancy
U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Marijuana Use and the Developing Brain