Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People's Views on Policies That Punish Pregnant People Who Use Cannabis.

Abstract

Objective: To explore recently/currently pregnant people's experiences and views about cannabis use during pregnancy and their associated support for policies that punish pregnant people who use cannabis.

Methods: A market research firm administered a survey (May-June 2022) to pregnant and recently pregnant people ages 18-49 regarding their attitudes about cannabis use policies and practices. We used multivariable regression to assess whether cannabis use and beliefs are associated with support for punishing people who use cannabis.

Results: 3,571 people initiated the survey, 3,569 completed support for punishment items. More participants (32%) agreed that cannabis use should be illegal for pregnant people than for everyone (17%); 30% agreed that using cannabis during pregnancy is child abuse; most agreed that pregnant people should be able to talk with their doctor about cannabis use without worrying about getting in trouble (72%) and that doctors and nurses should get consent from the pregnant person before testing their urine for cannabis (52%), although uncertainty was high (22%-39%) across items. Cannabis use pre-pregnancy (-0.39, 95% CI, -0.46, -0.32) and during pregnancy (-0.42, 95% CI, -0.49, -0.35) was associated with less support for punishment. Agreeing that use during pregnancy is safe for the baby (-0.47, 95% CI, -0.58, -0.36) and that people who use cannabis during pregnancy can be great parents (-0.55, 95% CI -0.63, -0.46) were associated with less support for punishment.

Conclusions: While recently/currently pregnant people's perspectives about cannabis use during pregnancy were complex and varied by policy, most supported policies and practices that protect the patient-provider relationship.