Prenatal Cannabis Use and Depressive Symptoms

( Obstet Gynecol . 2025;145(4):417-425. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005860) Though recent evidence has begun to show adverse outcomes associated with cannabis use during pregnancy, its prevalence is increasing, showing a drastic uptake from 0.9% in the early 2000s to 4%. The perception of its safety for use during pregnancy has also increased, with 65.4% of individuals who use it during pregnancy indicating that they believe there is no risk to the pregnancy from cannabis use. One association that remains unclear is the potential connection between cannabis use and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. This study was designed to address this using universal urine toxicology testing and perinatal depressive symptoms later in pregnancy, as well as assessing the possibility of an association of ongoing or heavy use and depressive symptoms compared with first-trimester use or no use.