C5 - Perinatal Cannabis Use in the Era of Increasing Legalization: Considerations for State MCH Programs

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Full Description: Most of the country lives in a jurisdiction where cannabis is legal for medical or nonmedical use. Every year, more states consider regulating cannabis for medical or nonmedical use. Approximately one in 20 people report using cannabis while pregnant, making it the most used federally illicit substance by pregnant people in the U.S. The rapid pace of cannabis legalization across the country makes state health departments and MCH programs increasingly concerned about the use of cannabis during the perinatal period and its impact on fetuses and newborns. Prenatal cannabis use is associated with poor MCH outcomes, including maternal anemia, fetal growth restrictions, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental deficits affecting memory, learning, and behavior.

This session will provide an overview of the cannabis policy landscape, usage trends, and the potential health impacts of perinatal cannabis use. An examination of the challenges public health leaders face in countering cannabis health misconceptions and the potential benefits of warning labels for cannabis products will be offered. AMCHP will also share its findings from state interviews on perinatal cannabis use prevention and harm reduction and guidance to replicate effective practices. Moreover, the session is a call to action for MCH professionals to be leaders in designing and implementing public health approaches to minimizing the harms of perinatal cannabis use.

This session is highly relevant to the conference theme as it will explore racial equity and legal implications for pregnant people who use cannabis. The harmful effects of drug-related criminalization on communities of color and the racial inequities in cannabis law enforcement stem from long-standing, antiquated U.S. drug policy. The session will include the history and present-day effects of the War on Drugs and explain how the association of certain substances with specific racial groups has led to different approaches to prevent and reduce perinatal substance use. Promising state social equity efforts will be considered.

The final part of the workshop will include a discussion on how MCH professionals can advocate for program and policy investments in public health and harm reduction alongside criminal legal reform efforts for cannabis.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

•Know the latest research on perinatal cannabis use.
•Understand the history and current status of states with regulated medical and nonmedical cannabis use.
•Conceptualize the past and present racial equity implications of the War on Drugs and how it shapes current cannabis prevention programs and policies.
•Identify state-level programs and policies designed to prevent and minimize the harms of perinatal cannabis use.
•Describe the importance of interprofessional collaboration among the MCH, behavioral health, social work, and law enforcement fields in addressing perinatal cannabis use.

Abbreviated Description: Cannabis is the most common federally illicit substance used by pregnant people. The potential harms of perinatal cannabis use to maternal, fetal, and newborn health encourage health departments and MCH programs to invest in prevention and harm reduction. This session includes an overview of the rapidly changing cannabis policy landscape, the latest research on perinatal cannabis use, challenges MCH leaders face in countering industry messaging, and state policy and program approaches. The session will also discuss the historical and present-day effects of the War on Drugs and explain how this led to different approaches to address perinatal substance use based on race. Presenters include the AMCHP, National Conference of State Legislatures, and Rutgers University School of Social Work.