One of the most taboo subjects regarding cannabis is whether or not it’s safe to use while pregnant. While we are not here to definitively tell you that it is or isn’t safe, we aim to empower you with perspective from both sides of the debate so you can decide if eating edibles while pregnant is the right choice for you.
Cannabis and Pregnancy
This hotly debated topic offers extremely strong opposing views. It’s important for you to review information from many sources before you make an informed decision for yourself.
Pro-Pot for Mamas
One of the ways weed can help during pregnancy is the relief from nausea. This side effect of growing new life can be mild to severe and last for as little as a few weeks, or in some cases, throughout the entire pregnancy. While being pregnant is hard enough, it’s made much more challenging by the constant need to (or feeling of needing to) vomit.
“I smoked throughout my entire pregnancy. My doctor told me it was worse to shock my body and stress out my baby [than it is] to maintain a minimum [cannabis] dosage while pregnant. The few times I tried to quit, I couldn’t eat and I got a lot more sick. Marijuana helped me SO much with morning sickness and my hip dysplasia during pregnancy. I wish they could do more research because so many women are hospitalized during pregnancy because of the nausea and not eating or consuming fluids.” -Adriana, for Blunt Blowin’ Mama
Not all mamas-to-be will gravitate towards smoking as their weed of choice. This is why cannabis tinctures and edibles are so appealing — they offer easy dosage and don’t impact the lungs. While there is no standard dosage for THC for pregnant women, some doctors suggest taking as little as possible to alleviate nausea, pain, or discomfort. The goal is to allay your symptoms, not get as high as possible.
No Way on Weed
Many agencies like the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Mayo Clinic, and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggest that any cannabis is inherently dangerous for the unborn baby. While NIDA says that more research is needed to provide conclusive evidence, they also point to low birth weight or premature birth as potential side effects of cannabis use in utero.
A 2020 report released by Frontiers in Psychiatry found that cannabis use during pregnancy can lead to negative behavioral and neurobiological consequences. In 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics took a firm stance on their belief that cannabis use for pregnant and breastfeeding women can impact fetal and infant development. (Their report also indicated that their test subjects also used alcohol and/or tobacco.)
The CDC states that, “although scientists are still learning about the effects of marijuana on developing brains, studies suggest that marijuana use by persons during pregnancy could be linked to problems with attention, memory, problem-solving skills, and behavior in their children later in life.”
So, Can You Eat Edibles While Pregnant?
The decision to eat edibles while pregnant is a deeply personal one. Only you know your body, and once you’ve taken in a broad scope of facts, anecdotal evidence, and trusted advice—the best thing to do is listen to your heart and go with your gut.
If you decide THC isn’t for you right now, you can still try a free sample of our non-medicated edibles. Should you like the tasty crunch of our snacks (and we know you will!) you’ll have something to look forward to once you’ve brought that beautiful baby into the world.
