Center Researchers Discuss Their Published Studies on Cannabis and Parenting

Attendees at the Drexel Medical Cannabis Research Center (MCRC)'s first event of 2026 heard about published research on cannabis and parenting from four MCRC researchers.

Presenters and their studies on medical cannabis and parenting included:

Janna Ataiants, DrPH, MPA, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Community Health and Prevention (CHP) in the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, serves as the co-Principal Investigator on the Pennsylvania State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) and recently authored a study titled “Mothers and fathers who use medical cannabis: A comparison of sociodemographic characteristics, cannabis use, and health.”

Elizabeth (Libby) Salerno Valdez, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor in CHP, is currently PI of the MCRC-funded pilot study “Needs and Barriers to Access of Medical Cannabis by Parenting Women by Race.”

Maddy Finkelstein, MSW, PhD candidate in CHP, authored a peer reviewed paper titled, “Role Strain Among Parents Who are Medical Cannabis Patients in Pennsylvania.”

Olivia Cordingley, MSW, PhD candidate in CHP, co-authored a peer reviewed paper with Dr. Valdez titled, “‘It Helped to Calm Me’: Perspectives on Cannabis Use During Pregnancy and Parenting from Certified Patients in Pennsylvania.”