Association of Recreational Cannabis Legalization With Maternal Cannabis Use in the Preconception, Prenatal, and Postpartum Periods

Source:

Skelton KR, Hecht AA, Benjamin-Neelon SE. Association of Recreational Cannabis Legalization With Maternal Cannabis Use in the Preconception, Prenatal, and Postpartum Periods. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(2):e210138. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0138

Key Points

Question  Is there an association between recreational cannabis legalization and prevalence of maternal cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods?

Findings  In this cross-sectional study of 73 551 women, cannabis use increased significantly among women before pregnancy and after pregnancy but not during pregnancy in states that had legalized recreational cannabis compared with states that had not legalized cannabis.

Meaning  These findings suggest the need for interdisciplinary research to better understand how recreational cannabis policies are associated with maternal cannabis use.