Wayne State research explores cannabis use and maternal health through the CannaMama Study

While working as a public health nurse in Detroit, Wayne State University Ph.D. student Biyyiah A. Strickland began hearing a familiar question from expectant mothers: Is it safe to use cannabis during pregnancy? The curiosity wasn't rooted in defiance - it came from women searching for honest answers in a sea of conflicting advice.

The CannaMama Study seeks to provide those answers by examining cannabis use and mental health among pregnant and postpartum women in Detroit, as well as how women perceive the risks of cannabis compared with substances such as caffeine or tobacco. Unpublished data from their preliminary analyses suggest that 26% of pregnant women in the sample report use cannabis - two to three times the national average - underscoring how common and complex this issue is in Detroit.

"They're hearing so many mixed messages," Strickland said. "Some women hear from friends, family or online communities that cannabis is natural and safe for things like morning sickness and anxiety, while their health care providers warn them to avoid it completely due to evidence on its impact on fetal or infant development. I realized there was a real gap between what women were experiencing and what public health was providing. 

"Pregnancy is already a time when everything feels magnified. Add stress, stigma and uncertainty, and it becomes even more complex. I wanted to approach this issue from a place of listening, not judgment."

The research aims to better understand why women turn to cannabis, how their social environments shape those decisions and what can be done to support them through education, empathy and evidence. The CannaMama Study is part of the Cannabinoids in Neurodevelopment (CANDID)research division in the School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, which brings together scholars from across disciplines to advance understanding of cannabis, cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system through rigorous research focused on their effects on human brain development and mental health. CANDID is led by Dr. Hilary Marusak, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences and director of the Division of Cannabinoids in Neurodevelopment.

The project supports Wayne State's mission to advance health equity and serve urban communities through research and innovation.

"Wayne State's research is built around community impact," said Marusak. "Our goal is to strengthen community and provider outreach about the science of cannabis and foster interdisciplinary teams to tackle some of the most pressing public health questions surrounding its use."

Centering community voices

The research is deeply rooted in Detroit, a city Strickland says reminds her of her upbringings on the south side of Chicago- strong, resilient and community-centered.

"The women here are powerful, but they face real barriers like access to care, transportation and stigma," she said. "Detroit is the perfect place to do this work because it shows how social context truly impacts health decisions."

Strickland and her team are finalizing data collection for an in-person follow-up study, CannaMama 2.0, which will examine how endocannabinoid levels relate to stress, mood and pregnancy outcomes.  The CannaMama 1.0 survey study is recruiting metro Detroit residents who are currently pregnant or within one year postpartum to share their thoughts and experiences with cannabis use.

"We all want healthier moms and babies," Strickland said. "Each discipline brings something different - psychiatry helps us understand stress and mood, nursing adds empathy and communication, and public health reminds us to think about prevention and equity. Together, the research becomes richer and more meaningful."

Strickland hopes the CannaMama Study will help improve provider education, prenatal care and public health messaging across Michigan. In addition, she also aims to reduce fear around conversations about cannabis use in clinical settings, especially in marginalized communities where trust in health systems can be fragile.

"When someone says they're using cannabis, that's not just data - that's a story about stress, access and coping," she said. "We want health care systems that listen, support and respond with compassion."

By Darlene A. White