Cannabis and Breastfeeding: Safety Guidelines to Follow

Cannabis and Breastfeeding: The Short Answer

Do not use cannabis while breastfeeding. The CDC, ACOG, and the AAP all advise against it. THC passes into breast milk, and infants clear it slowly. There is no established safe amount, no reliable wait time, and no way to pump it out of your supply. If you used before you knew you were pregnant or before you read this, you do not have to wean on your own. Call your obstetric provider or a lactation consultant and get a plan that fits your situation.

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What the Major Health Bodies Say

• CDC: recommends against cannabis use during breastfeeding because THC is transferred into breast milk.
• ACOG: advises against cannabis use while lactating and recommends screening for use at postpartum visits.
• LactMed (NIH): states that cannabis use during lactation is not recommended and that THC appears in milk.
• AAP: cites insufficient data to establish safety and discourages use during lactation.

Why THC in Breast Milk Matters

THC is fat soluble. It moves into breast milk and is stored in infant fat tissue, so clearance takes longer than in an adult. Reported effects include sedation, poor feeding, and slower weight gain in some case reports. Long-term data on infant neurodevelopment is limited and mixed, which is a large part of why no health agency sets a safe threshold. Potency matters too: today's flower and concentrates carry far more THC than the products studied in older research.

Cannabis and Breastfeeding: What the CDC Actually Says

Steps to Take If You Are Breastfeeding and Using Cannabis

1. Write down what you use: product name, THC percentage, method, and how often.
2. Call your obstetric provider or a lactation consultant the same day.
3. Describe the details: edibles versus inhaled, dose, and timing relative to feeds.
4. Ask whether your infant needs a weight check or feeding assessment.
5. Ask about a transition plan with formula or stored milk instead of stopping feeds on your own.
6. Watch your baby for drowsiness, weak suck, or slow weight gain, and report anything new right away.
7. Ask about options for nausea, sleep, or anxiety that are compatible with lactation.

If You Choose to Use Anyway

Health agencies do not endorse a lower-risk dose because the research does not support one. What clinicians discuss is exposure reduction: skip inhaled smoke, skip high-potency concentrates, avoid mixing cannabis with alcohol or sedatives, and do not feed while impaired or while bed-sharing. Report any suspected reaction in your infant to your pediatrician. These measures lower exposure. They do not make use safe.

cannabis use while breastfeeding cdc

CBD, Edibles, and Label Claims

CBD-only products are not a safe substitute. CBD passes into milk as well, and many labels do not list contaminants, residual solvents, or accurate potency. Buy from licensed dispensaries that publish batch certificates of analysis (COAs) for potency, pesticides, and microbials. A COA tells you what is in the product. It does not make the product compatible with breastfeeding.

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When to Call a Clinician Urgently

• Your infant is hard to wake, limp, or feeding poorly.
• Weight loss or fewer wet diapers than usual.
• You used a high-dose edible or concentrate and are unsure of the timing.
• You combined cannabis with alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines.

What Comes Next

Set a follow-up with your provider within a week of any change in use, and keep a simple log of feeds, diapers, and infant alertness. If you decide to stop using, ask about lactation-safe support for withdrawal symptoms such as irritability or trouble sleeping. Store any cannabis product locked away from children and pets, and label edibles clearly so no one in the household mistakes them for food.