Cannabis policies and prenatal cannabis use: how laws affect moms and babies
Official title: Evaluating the effects of recreational cannabis policies on prenatal cannabis use and maternal and child health outcomes for real-world impact
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11459463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how changes in recreational cannabis laws influence cannabis use during pregnancy and health outcomes for mothers and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,936 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA066717-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11459463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals, especially in Maine, and families affected by perinatal cannabis use.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals not using cannabis or not in Maine may not directly benefit from the study results.
What this research studies
The project analyzes real-world data to see how Maine’s recreational cannabis rollout relates to cannabis use during pregnancy and related health outcomes for mothers and their children. Researchers will link state pregnancy surveillance data with birth certificates and health insurance records to track six years of information. The goal is to understand how policy changes intersect with demographics, mental health, and other substances to affect health during pregnancy and after birth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform safer policy choices and improve guidance for clinicians and pregnant individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies have shown associations between policy changes and substance use patterns, but this project adds detailed, linked, real-world data on pregnancy outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawkins, Summer Sherburne — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Hawkins, Summer Sherburne
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.