Why we’re talking about this.
During one of the conversations at Circle 2.0, the subject turned to pregnancy and medical cannabis. Some women shared how isolated they felt. They had found a prescribed medicine that helped them, and then, when they became pregnant or started thinking about it, they felt there was nobody they could talk to openly.
Others in the room had very different feelings. That’s exactly why it matters. When a subject is this charged, women often stop asking questions altogether. We think the questions deserve a safe place to be asked.
What UK guidance says.
Medical cannabis is a legal prescription medicine in the UK. On the NHS it can only be prescribed by a specialist hospital doctor, or under a specialist’s supervision.
When it comes to pregnancy, NHS maternity information is clear that health professionals advise avoiding cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding. NHS leaflets explain that THC, one of the compounds in cannabis, crosses the placenta, and they list possible risks including lower birth weight and premature birth. NHS guidance also says THC can pass into breast milk.
For women who are prescribed it, one NHS trust’s leaflet asks them to “let your prescriber know if you are pregnant”, and encourages women to talk to their midwife or GP, where they will be “supported without judgement”.
Why it feels so complicated.
Here are the two sides of the conversation we heard, as fairly as we can put them. We’re sharing feelings and questions, not facts or recommendations.
What some women told us
- They felt dismissed or judged the moment they mentioned it.
- They worried about what happens to their health if a condition goes untreated.
- They wanted an honest conversation about all of their options, not a closed door.
What others in the room raised
- A baby can’t choose, so caution feels like the kindest option.
- There isn’t enough research to know what’s safe.
- Doctors have to follow guidance, even when they understand.
Both of these come from a place of care. And both point to the same gap: women want more information, and more honest conversations with the professionals looking after them.
ask the question anyway
Questions you could take to your midwife or prescriber.
If this is something you’re thinking about, these might help you start the conversation:
- What does the current evidence say about my medicine in pregnancy, and how strong is that evidence?
- What are the risks to me, and to my baby, if my condition isn’t treated?
- What other treatment options are there for me during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
- If I’m planning a pregnancy, when should we start talking about my medication?
- Who else can I speak to, such as a specialist, for a second opinion?
The big questions for all of us.
How do we make sure women feel safe telling their doctors the truth?
How do we balance a woman’s right to make choices about her body with the care we all want for her baby?
What research would help women and doctors make these decisions together?
We don’t have the answers, and we won’t pretend to. But we believe in asking the questions out loud.
🩷We’re a community, not a clinic. Speak to your GP or specialist.
Sources
- Medical cannabis, NHS.
- Cannabis use in pregnancy and after birth, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
- Cannabis in pregnancy, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust.
About this read
Written by The Women’s Circle team with AI support, then checked and approved by Sophie East, Founder of The Women’s Circle. This article shares a conversation and links to official guidance. It is not medical or legal advice, and it does not promote any medicine or product. Views shared by women at our circle are their own. How we write.
