Rationale: Increases in cannabis access have led to rising rates of prenatal cannabis use, despite evidence of negative outcomes. Budtenders, those who work at cannabis retailers, may influence women’s decisions about using during their pregnancies. Although they are often thought of as experts on cannabis use, budtenders receive little training on the harms and effects of cannabis use. Budtenders even previously recommended cannabis during pregnancy, especially for morning sickness (Dickson B, et al. 2018) . 

Blunts are frequently used during pregnancy, containing both cannabis and tobacco, but are blunts safe (Coleman-Cowger, et al. 2018)? A 2025 study published in JAMA surveyed budtenders to assess the advice they offer on prenatal cannabis use (Young-Wolff, et al. 2025). 

Method: More than 500 retailers in California answered calls from researchers acting as pregnant women. Callers used a script, saying that they had previously smoked blunts and were now pregnant, and “wondering if it is safe to use blunts.” 

Results: Budtenders were twice as likely to say that THC was safer to use than tobacco. Advice from budtenders was very inconsistent, reflecting uncertainty about cannabis safety. 

Meaning: Among experts there is a growing recognition that cannabis is certainly worse for developing babies than tobacco and may even be worse than alcohol. Although most budtenders warned about the risks of cannabis to pregnant women, 20% endorsed it. Budtenders tend to give incorrect and inconsistent advice. Any drug use during pregnancy should be discussed with a doctor or other trained medical provider as it may have lasting impacts on a child’s wellbeing.