How pregnant women use cannabis and other substances across pregnancy
Official title: Modes of Cannabis Administration and Polysubstance Use among Women Before and During Pregnancy
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11386446 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how women use cannabis before and during pregnancy and how patterns vary by who they are and by local policies, using health records from Kaiser Permanente to understand potential health impacts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $660,693 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058201-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386446 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals or those planning pregnancy who use cannabis or other substances and receive care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people who do not use cannabis or substances and do not interact with prenatal care systems at KPNC are less likely to benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze electronic health records from about 310,000 pregnancies at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 2021 and 2026 to see how cannabis use is done (like vaping or edibles) and how it relates to other substances. They will combine health data with policy information and retailer data to study who is more likely to use cannabis in pregnancy, how use changes during pregnancy, and what health outcomes are linked to different modes of use. The study uses routine prenatal screenings and urine tests to capture substance use, aiming to identify factors tied to daily use, cannabis use disorder, and related health risks for both mother and baby. The goal is to inform safer care and policies for pregnant people who use cannabis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide clinicians and policymakers to reduce harms from prenatal cannabis exposure and support healthier pregnancies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked cannabis use in pregnancy to adverse outcomes, but this study’s scale and mixed-methods approach offer new insights into modes of use and policy effects.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young-Wolff, Kelly Corinne — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Young-Wolff, Kelly Corinne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Trajectories of Cannabis Use in Pregnancy
This study follows pregnant people to understand how cannabis use patterns change across pregnancy and how those patterns relate to birth outcomes and child development.
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Parental alcohol and cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy
This project looks at how pregnant people and their partners use alcohol and cannabis before, during, and after pregnancy to learn about timing and patterns of co-use.
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How cannabis use changes during pregnancy
This project will follow pregnant people who use cannabis to track how their use changes across pregnancy and identify factors linked to those patterns.
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How pregnant people use cannabis (smoking, vaping, edibles) and other substances
This project looks at the ways pregnant people use different cannabis products and other drugs before and during pregnancy and how those patterns relate to quitting and health outcomes.
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Investigating alcohol and cannabis use before and during pregnancy
This study is looking at how moms and dads use alcohol and cannabis before and during pregnancy to see how it might affect the baby’s development, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding the risks of these substances during this important time.
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How women use cannabis before and during pregnancy
This study looks at how women use cannabis before and during pregnancy, including different ways they consume it like vaping or eating edibles, to see how this varies with their backgrounds and local laws, and how it might affect their health and their baby's health.
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.