English Faith, Greyson Devon
Department of Health Promotion and Policy 325 Arnold House, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 North Pleasant St. Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
Department of Communication N308 Integrative Learning Center 650 N. Pleasant St. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
Int J Drug Policy. 2022 Aug;106:103774. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103774. Epub 2022 Jun 27.
Cannabis is the most commonly used drug during pregnancy, excluding alcohol and tobacco, in the United States. Cannabis consumption during pregnancy is increasing along with greater legal and social acceptance.
We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 23 in-depth interviews with pregnant and lactating people in Massachusetts, a state that legalized cannabis for adult use in 2016. Our aim was to explore how policy constrains or facilitates people's ability to make informed decisions about cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation. Our analysis was conducted using an ecosocial approach, recognizing that the implementation and interpretation of cannabis policy can be understood at multiple levels, which interact with each other and shape the health and experiences of individuals. Additionally, this analysis was informed by a harm reduction approach in which we acknowledge the complexity surrounding cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation, while attempting to identify ways to reduce potentially harmful consequences.
Findings revealed that, despite the legal status of cannabis, there continues to be a lack of clarity for pregnant and lactating people regarding the legal implications of cannabis use. Inconsistent state and institutional policies about drug testing of mothers and newborns leave a cloud of fear hanging over the experiences of people who use cannabis and inhibit their ability to obtain expert advice from healthcare providers.
Decision makers in public and institutional policy should work to clarify and update policies regarding substance use during pregnancy following legalization of a new substance, and ensure that pregnant and lactating people are afforded the same legal protections as the general population.
在美国，大麻是孕期除酒精和烟草外最常用的药物。随着大麻在法律和社会层面上得到更多认可，孕期吸食大麻的现象正在增加。
我们对马萨诸塞州23名孕妇和哺乳期女性进行了深入访谈，并开展了定性内容分析。该州于2016年将成人使用大麻合法化。我们的目的是探讨政策如何限制或促进人们在孕期和哺乳期就大麻使用做出明智决策的能力。我们采用生态社会方法进行分析，认识到大麻政策的实施和解读可在多个层面上理解，这些层面相互作用并塑造着个人的健康和经历。此外，该分析还受到减少伤害方法的影响，在这种方法中，我们承认孕期和哺乳期使用大麻的复杂性，同时试图找出减少潜在有害后果的方法。
研究结果显示，尽管大麻具有合法地位，但孕妇和哺乳期女性对于使用大麻的法律后果仍缺乏明确认识。关于对母亲和新生儿进行药物检测的州政策和机构政策不一致，这让吸食大麻的人的经历笼罩在恐惧之中，并抑制了她们从医疗保健提供者那里获得专业建议的能力。
公共政策和机构政策的决策者应努力在新物质合法化后，澄清和更新有关孕期物质使用的政策，并确保孕妇和哺乳期女性获得与普通人群相同的法律保护。
