Lit Tits: The Smoke Is Finally Clearing on Breastfeeding & Cannabis

I created this blog series because for years, conversations around cannabis use while breastfeeding have been filled with uncertainty, judgment, and confusing guidance. Parents were told to stop breastfeeding altogether if they had any cannabis in their system. Sometimes even based on use during pregnancy, not postpartum. The fear, the stigma, and the lack of evidence based clarity made it nearly impossible for families and providers to have honest, supportive conversations rooted in science and care.

But finally, things are starting to shift.

A recent update from Dr. Philip Anderson, published in Breastfeeding Medicine, offers some of the clearest guidance we’ve had so far. It’s based on years of data collection, including the most commonly searched substances on LactMed, and it turns out cannabis has been the #1 searched substance almost every year since 2020.

That doesn’t surprise me.

Families want to make safe, informed choices. They want to protect their babies and care for themselves. Especially those navigating pain, anxiety, trauma, or postpartum stress. For many folks, cannabis is a tool they use for these ailments. What’s been missing is honest, non punitive information about what that means during lactation.

What We Know Now: Cannabis + Breastfeeding

Dr. Anderson’s latest review breaks down the evidence in a balanced, thoughtful way. Here are the key takeaways from the May 2025 update:

• THC is present in human milk, but usually in low amounts.

Studies show variable levels of exposure, with occasional heavy use leading to higher concentrations. However, in most cases, the levels passed through milk are relatively low.

• The half-life of THC in breastmilk is 12–39 hours.

That means it can take 2.5 to 8 days for THC to fully clear from milk, depending on dose, frequency of use, body composition, and how the cannabis was consumed.

• Timing matters.

If smoking, avoid breastfeeding for at least 2 hours afterward. If consuming edibles (especially with food), wait longer because digestion slows absorption and extends the time THC remains in your system.

• No smoking near the baby.

This remains critical. Secondhand cannabis smoke is linked to increased infant exposure and elevated risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Ventilation is not enough, cannabis should never be smoked around infants.

• Heavy use may impact breastfeeding duration.

Data is limited, but some studies show slightly shorter breastfeeding durations among heavy users. However, these studies are complicated by other factors, like tobacco use or structural barriers to breastfeeding support.

This update reflects a broader shift in the lactation field away from fear based messaging and toward supportive, harm reduction approaches. Instead of punishing or shaming parents for cannabis use, providers are now encouraged to educate, assess individual circumstances, and support informed decision making.

Here’s the truth that they don’t wanna say:

Breastfeeding is still recommended, even if cannabis use occurs.

Ideally, use should be occasional, timed carefully, and not combined with direct smoke exposure. But the presence of THC alone is no longer seen as an automatic reason to stop breastfeeding, especially when balanced against the known benefits of human milk.

For Black and Indigenous parents especially who have historically been over surveilled and criminalized for substance use during pregnancy and postpartum this shift matters. These new guidelines provide room for compassionate care, evidence-based support, and real conversations about how to safely feed our babies while tending to our own health needs.

I believe in informed choice, not shame. I believe that parents can be trusted with good information. And I also believe in continuing to push for better research, more culturally responsive care, and systems that affirm not punish the ways we choose to care for ourselves and our children.

Want to Read the Research?

Philip O. Anderson. Cannabis and Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2025 May;20(5):285-287. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2025.0002.

Also check out : The Lactation College - Substack

https://substack.com/@thelactationcollege/note/p-164724844?r=1oa6tb&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action