Tobacco, Vaping, and Cannabis

Using cannabis, tobacco, and nicotine before pregnancy

You and your partner's health are both important for a healthy pregnancy.

Before you start trying to get pregnant, it's best for both partners to stop using cannabis and nicotine products like tobacco, vapes, and nicotine pouches.

Quitting and staying smoke- and vape-free before, during, and after pregnancy is the best way to help yourself and your family be healthy.

Benefits of quitting

When you, your partner, and the people around you don't use cannabis or nicotine products, you:

improve your ability to get pregnant
have a healthy pregnancy and birth experience
give your baby a healthy start in life

Couples who don't use cannabis or nicotine products while trying to get pregnant have a lower risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

Health effects

For you

Cannabis and nicotine products can affect your and your partner's fertility. For example, using cannabis or nicotine products can harm sperm quality and sperm count. Testicular cancer is also linked to cannabis and tobacco use, which can lead to infertility (unable to get someone pregnant).

For your baby

Toxic chemicals in cannabis and nicotine products can also harm your growing baby.

They can affect your baby's brain development, which can lead to learning, mental health, and behaviour issues later in life.

These chemicals can also raise the risk of your baby being born too soon (premature birth) and having a low birth weight.

A smaller baby does not make delivery easier. There are many serious health risks for you and your baby if your baby is born very small or too soon. Smaller babies are also more likely to need to stay in hospital longer.

Reducing harm before pregnancy

If you're not ready to quit, there are things you can do to reduce the health risks from smoke and aerosol and from vapes:

If you haven't already, keep your home and vehicle smoke and vape free. Don't let anyone smoke or vape inside your home and vehicle.
Chemicals from these products can stay on indoor surfaces for a long time, which can harm people who touch, ingest, or breathe it in. Wash down walls, surfaces, and fabrics with soapy water to help reduce smoke and vape chemicals.
Wash your hands and face after smoking, vaping or using smokeless tobacco products or cannabis to reduce chemicals getting into your home.

Quitting tobacco or nicotine products

Quitting tobacco and nicotine vaping can be hard. As you get ready to quit, think about your reasons to use less and stop, and not just for the baby. When you find reasons to stop smoking and vaping beyond pregnancy, you are more likely to quit for the long-term.

For support, visit AlbertaQuits or call the helpline at 1-866-710-7848. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicine to help you use less and quit.

Quitting cannabis

If you aren't able to stop using cannabis completely, talk to your healthcare provider.

You can also reduce your risk of harmful effects by following the lower-risk cannabis use guidelines (PDF).

For help to quit or reduce your cannabis use, call the Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322.

Learn more

For more information about your health during the years that you can have a baby (preconception health), visit Ready or Not Alberta.

Current as of: August 17, 2026

Author: Tobacco, Vaping, and Cannabis Team, Primary Care Alberta

This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.