The signage and warning labels that must be on any legal weed shop or product are sometimes excessive. Everything from legalization propositions to health warnings is slapped onto websites and eighth jars. It’s often the law. Walk into the shop, and many have signs displaying the legal amount of weed a person can carry and other things based on the rules in that state.
A common dispensary sign features a pregnant person with a warning that consuming cannabis in that state is not safe or healthy. The verbiage varies in different regions, but the basic idea remains. A study recently published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that in their current form, these signs not only don’t work—they may make these consumers less apt to seek out medical help over their trusted weed.
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These public safety warnings may not work
Five states have rules about pregnancy-related warnings at the register in cannabis shops. These read things like “There is no safe level of cannabis use during pregnancy,” “Morning sickness? There are healthier options than cannabis,” and the classic: “WARNING: Do not use cannabis if pregnant or breastfeeding.” Researchers interviewed 34 pregnant people who had consumed cannabis before or during pregnancy on how these warning signs impacted their choices.
More than half of survey respondents felt negatively about the warning signs and questioned whether the claims were science-based. The same amount believed these were neither useful nor relevant but instead created a “shaming effect.”
Many shared disbelief about the scientific evidence backing the claims (53 percent). The final theme that emerged was that 16 percent of those who answered believed that the signs would not stop anyone from consuming cannabis pregnant.
“People don’t want to be judged,” one respondent wrote. “They are judged every day for every single thing that they do from what they wear to how they walk to how they look, but, you know, if you’re standing next to a sign, you’re purchasing something that sign tells you you shouldn’t, you know, you feel like a million eyes are looking at you.”
Those who answered expressed a desire for autonomy regarding what they put into their bodies while pregnant. These respondents felt the signage took aim at that autonomy. They also expressed concerns about potential family separation if healthcare providers reported their consumption habits to child protective services.
The most concerning impact of this mounting distrust and fear is that many did not seek out care or disclose use to clinicians. Respondents missed opportunities for preeclampsia treatment, medical counseling, and cannabis use disorder treatment as a result.
Weed public safety problems, not fixes
The science on the safety of weed during pregnancy is somewhat limited, but more research emerges every few months. Pregnant people turn to cannabis for morning sickness, depression, and other ailments. However, research is starting to heavily back the warning signs.
Recent research analyses connect cannabis consumption in utero to ADHD, Autism, and other neuropsychiatric disorders in childhood. Others hone in on “poor birth outcomes” like low birth weight, preterm birth, and increased risk of neonatal morbidity. New research on outcomes of cannabis during pregnancy reiterates that it should be avoided, but how can states reflect this in signage that consumers will believe?
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Participants of this study agreed the entire pregnant population would not respond to one single message. How someone engages with a warning sign is based largely on personal experiences. They shared that newer consumers were more apt to respond to this signage than long-term users. However, placing the warnings at the point-of-sale system may be futile. The participants pointed out that by the time someone is at the register, they have already decided to purchase.
This research paper indicates that a valid cannabis public safety initiative is not working, but it also provides the next steps. If regulators took note from the pregnant cannabis consumers who responded, they would alter education programs. Clearly, science-based education that reaches pregnant people long before they end up at the dispensary counter would be most effective.
The jury is out on the exact impact of cannabis use during pregnancy, but this paper indicates that consumers have reached a verdict on warning signs. It seems that these ones don’t work.
