THC passes into breast milk, and no safe amount has been established for a nursing infant. The CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend avoiding cannabis during breastfeeding because THC can build up in milk fat and stay detectable in milk for days after use.
can you smoke cannabis and breastfeed
A single exposure is unlikely to cause serious harm, but research on long-term effects is incomplete. A clinician or lactation consultant can help you weigh the risks and choose the safest feeding plan for your baby.
Cannabis Use and Nursing Mothers: A Comprehensive Guide
Does THC get into breast milk?
Yes. THC is fat soluble, so it passes from the bloodstream into breast milk and concentrates in the fat portion.
Does CBD Pass Through Breast Milk?
Levels typically peak about one to four hours after smoking or vaping and later after edibles. Dabs, concentrates, and high-dose edibles can produce much higher milk concentrations than a small amount of flower.
is cannabis safe while breastfeeding
How long does THC stay in breast milk?
There is no reliable timeline for any one person. It depends on how often you use, the potency of the product, your body fat, and your metabolism.
In a study published in Pediatrics, THC was still detectable in breast milk up to six days after the mother's last reported use. People who use daily or heavily may have detectable THC for longer.
Can pumping and dumping remove THC from breast milk?
No. Pumping and dumping does not clear THC in any meaningful way, because the cannabinoid is stored in body fat and moves back into milk over time.
Freezing, heating, or storing milk does not remove THC either. Home test strips for milk are not accurate enough to base feeding decisions on.
What do health agencies recommend?
- CDC: avoid cannabis while breastfeeding.
- ACOG: discontinue marijuana before conception and during pregnancy and lactation.
- AAP: no safe amount has been identified, so abstaining is safest.
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: an individualized, judgment-free conversation with harm reduction when abstinence is not realistic.
If you cannot or do not want to stop, options include formula feeding, using milk pumped and stored before use, or donor milk while you reduce exposure. Ask your clinician to help you build a plan that keeps your baby fed.
What are the possible risks to a nursing baby?
Reported concerns include drowsiness, poor feeding, and slower weight gain in some exposed infants. Some small studies link heavy maternal cannabis use during lactation to slightly lower motor development scores at one year, though results are mixed and other factors such as tobacco smoke and alcohol play a role.
Long-term effects of THC exposure through breast milk are not well studied, so the full picture remains unclear.
Cannabis use can also affect safe caregiving. Sedation, slowed reaction time, and drowsiness raise the risk of unsafe sleep situations and of dropping or injuring a baby.
Do edibles, vapes, and delta-8 count too?
Yes. All forms of cannabis that contain THC, including edibles, vapes, concentrates, tinctures, and hemp-derived delta-8 and delta-9 products, can reach breast milk.
CBD products may contain THC that is not listed on the label, so treat them with the same caution. Alcohol-based tinctures can also carry alcohol into milk.
Does secondhand cannabis smoke matter?
Yes. Secondhand smoke exposes an infant to fine particles and THC, and it raises the risk of respiratory problems and ear infections, similar to tobacco smoke.
Avoid smoking or vaping in the home or car, change your clothes, and wash your hands before holding your baby.
What should you do next?
Talk with your obstetric clinician, pediatric clinician, or a lactation consultant about your use and your feeding goals. Most clinicians want to help you lower risk, not judge you.
Do not stop a breastfeeding routine without a plan for feeding your baby. It is also worth asking about postpartum depression screening, since cannabis is sometimes used to cope with symptoms that have other treatments.
This guide is general information and is not a substitute for medical advice.