LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Michigan researchers say there’s a joint concern growing among expectant mothers. While doctors still warn pregnant women to skip sushi, deli meat, and too much coffee, a new MSU study finds that marijuana use is far from rare, occurring in one out of every six pregnancies statewide.

The trend, they say, tracks closely with Michigan’s expanding cannabis industry. 

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“It’s more accessible, affordable, and perceived as safe,” Dr. Ban Al-Sahab of MSU’s College of Human Medicine said. “This changing legal and social landscape around cannabis necessitates a deeper understanding of trends and characteristics associated with cannabis use.”

The study, which examined 1,100 mothers between 2017 and 2023, combined urine tests with self-reports and found that nearly one-third of women who used cannabis did not disclose it.

Al-Sahab said the next step is creating interventions  to help women make healthier decisions for themselves and their babies.

“Our findings underscore the urgent need to better understand why cannabis use is so prevalent during pregnancy and how to support women in making safe choices for themselves and their babies,” she said.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to warn against marijuana use during pregnancy, citing developmental risks to newborns.