Cannabis and Pregnancy

Since the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2018, use has increased and become normalized, despite no known safe amount during preconception or pregnancy. Cannabis use during these periods is associated with adverse child growth and developmental outcomes with potentially lifelong effects. Public health attention to these impacts was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic as legalization unfolded in Canada. Renewed focus is needed to share current evidence and strengthen policies and partnerships to prevent harms from cannabis-exposed pregnancies in the post-legalization era.

In response to cannabis legalization in 2018, TBDHU embarked on a three-phased research project to help inform public health prevention initiatives to reduce cannabis-related harms during pregnancy.

Phase 1: Getting Ahead of Policy The Phase 1 report released in 2018 examined gaps, barriers, promising practices, and service provider needs through a 2017 Local Service Provider Survey (LSPS), 2017 Ontario Public Health Practitioner Survey (OPHPS) and literature review to identify effective programming and interventions to reduce cannabis-exposed pregnancies prior to legalization of cannabis.   Download the full report.

Phase 2: Transitioning into Legalization The Phase 2 report released in 2020 focused on understanding community perceptions about cannabis use and pregnancy through a 2019 Community Perception Survey on Cannabis and Pregnancy (CPSCP), and a literature review to identify pre-legalization promotion, prevention, intervention, and screening practices aimed to reduce and/or prevent cannabis-exposed pregnancies.   Download the full report.

Phase 3: Post-legalization and Pandemic Era The Phase 3 report released in January 2026 examines changes in prevention and evidence-informed interventions related to cannabis-exposed pregnancies following legalization, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on CPSCP surveys conducted in 2020 and 2022, LSPS and OPHPS conducted in 2022, and a literature review of post-legalization promotion, prevention, intervention, and screening practices. The report highlights key findings, identified gaps, and recommended next steps for public health practitioners, health-care providers, policy-makers, and community services supporting pregnant people.   Download the full report.

For more information please contact: families@tbdhu.com or call (807) 625-5972.