The ethics and management of cannabis use in pregnancy following decriminalisation and licensing for medical use: narrative review

Abstract

Aims and method As drug policies pertaining to cannabis use become more liberalised, the prevalence of cannabis use in pregnancy could increase. However, there is limited guidance available for clinicians. This paper presents a narrative review of literature published in the past 16 years (2006–2021) to (a) address the impact of legalisation and decriminalisation on the risks, ethics and support of women who use cannabis during pregnancy and (b) develop guidance for clinicians. Results Both national and international trends suggest increased use of cannabis over the past decade, while the risks of cannabis use for recreational or medicinal purposes in pregnancy remain unmitigated. Clinical implications This review confirmed that the recommendation of cannabinoid-based products for pregnant and breast-feeding women is currently premature. More research is needed to address safety concerns. We discussed navigating ethical concerns and suggest targeted management strategies for clinicians treating pregnant women who choose to use cannabis.

Keywords

• Cannabis
• pregnancy
• risk
• ethics
• decriminalisation