Cannabis and Breastfeeding: What the Guidance Says

Short answer

Major health groups advise against cannabis use while breastfeeding. THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, passes into breast milk. Studies have found THC in milk up to six days after the last use. No safe level has been set.

Does THC get into breast milk

Yes. THC is fat soluble, so it moves into breast milk and into the fat stores of the body. A 2018 study in the journal Pediatrics tested milk from mothers who used cannabis. THC was present in 63% of samples. Detection lasted up to six days after the last reported use.

Concentration in milk drops over time after you stop. The rate differs by person, by dose, and by how often cannabis is used. No standard waiting period is known to make milk free of THC.

What about CBD

CBD is also fat soluble, and small amounts are thought to reach breast milk. Data on CBD in human milk is thin. Most studies measure THC, not CBD. Labels on CBD products do not always match the contents, which adds more uncertainty.

What health organizations say

• ACOG: people should not use cannabis during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• AAP: the 2018 clinical report advises against cannabis use while nursing, based on limited data on infant effects.
• CDC: no amount of cannabis is known to be safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• LactMed, the NIH database on drugs and lactation, lists cannabis as not recommended.

What is known about infant effects

Human data is limited. Studies are small and depend on self-reported use. Research has not tied a clear pattern of harm to milk exposure alone. Animal studies report changes in brain development at high doses. Because human evidence is thin, the guidance leans to caution.

Does pumping and dumping help

There is no evidence that pumping and dumping lowers the THC your infant gets. Unlike alcohol, THC clears from the body over days, not hours. New milk keeps carrying THC during that window. Pumping can manage supply and comfort, but it does not make milk THC free.

Other points

• Secondhand cannabis smoke deposits tar and residue on clothes, carpets, and furniture. An infant who lives in a smoking area breathes that smoke.
• Many hospitals screen newborns for cannabis with meconium or urine tests. A positive result can trigger a report to child welfare services. Rules differ by state.
• Edibles, vapes, and flower carry different THC doses. A single serving of one edible can hold more THC than several inhalations.

What to do

• Talk with your obstetrician, midwife, or a lactation consultant about your options.
• Ask about other treatments for nausea, sleep problems, or pain.
• Ask about monitoring if you already used cannabis while nursing.
• Keep cannabis smoke away from the infant and out of the home if possible.

Dispensary staff are not clinicians. They cannot assess risk for a nursing infant. The current position from ACOG, AAP, and the CDC is to avoid cannabis while breastfeeding.