Assessing Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

Recreational and medicinal marijuana uses have become more prevalent in recent years. Women's health nurses are increasingly likely to encounter pregnant women who use or have used marijuana. Research has found that inadequate screening for substance use, inadequate knowledge about the effects of marijuana use, and punitive counseling are barriers to women's understanding of the importance of seeking treatment for substance use. Provision of evidence-based counseling, education, and resources support women and strengthen the patient-provider relationship. Women's health nurses can gain a basic understanding of the effects of perinatal marijuana use and create a plan for women who have positive screening results. This article reviews two recent studies that examine marijuana use during pregnancy and suggest interventions that women's health nurses can implement.