Grant: Catalyst Grant: Pop. Health Intervention Research on Legalization of Cannabis

Women who use cannabis (marijuana) during pregnancy may be at risk for complications. Also, cannabis use in pregnancy could lead to growth or developmental impairments in children. With forthcoming legalization and social acceptability of cannabis on the rise, more pregnant women are likely to use cannabis but the health risks for mothers and their babies are not clear. Our study will attempt to answer this question by looking at the medical records of deliveries across all institutions in the province of Ontario, comparing mothers who did and did not use cannabis. We will follow the children over several years to monitor changes in their health and development. Our results will inform women, medical practitioners, and the government on the risks of cannabis use in pregnancy and provide the best information for pregnant women and their providers to make safe and healthy decisions in pregnancy.