Marijuana has not been proven safe to use during breastfeeding. Data on the effects of marijuana and CBD exposure to an infant through breastfeeding are limited and conflicting.
Chemicals from marijuana can pass to your baby through breastmilk.1 In addition to possible adverse effects from cannabinoids in breastmilk, smoking marijuana is not advised in the vicinity of infants because the infants may be exposed by inhaling the smoke.2
Possible risks of using marijuana include but are not restricted to:
- Long-term unknown exposure to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in an infant since THC is stored in body fat
- Some products may contain contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria, and fungus
- Federal and local policies can trigger the involvement of child protective agencies in the lives of families who would otherwise have no reason to interface with these agencies
Limited and variable evidence on infant development:3
- Growth delay
- Slight and dose-dependent reduction in motor development
- Sedation in infants, leading to low tone and poor sucking
To limit potential risk to the infant, the CDC, AAP, and ACOG advise against marijuana use or marijuana-containing products in any form, including those containing CBD while breastfeeding.4 5 6
It is important for the full informed choice process to disclose any marijuana consumption to a recipient family.
Also see: Drugs, medication, alcohol, and the decision to discard breastmilk
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- AAP – Marijuana Use by Breastfeeding Mothers and Cannabinoid Concentrations in Breast Milk
↩︎ - NIH – Cannabis ↩︎
- Frontiers in Psychiatry – Cannabis Use in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: Behavioral and Neurobiological Consequences ↩︎
- CDC – Marijuana ↩︎
- AAP – Marijuana Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Implications for Neonatal and Childhood Outcomes ↩︎
- ACOG – Marijuana Use During Pregnancy and Lactation (Reaffirmed 2021) ↩︎
