# Cannabis During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Health Guidance > A clear guide to cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding: what health authorities say about exposure, uncertainty, product types and talking with a care provider. Source page: https://420.camp/wiki/cannabis-pregnancy-breastfeeding-health-guidance Published 2026-10-23, last updated 2026-10-23. Published by 420.camp — quote with attribution and a link (https://420.camp/license). Cannabis During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Health Guidance Pregnancy and early parenthood come with a flood of advice. Cannabis can be especially confusing when it is described as natural, used for medical reasons, or offered in a form that does not involve smoke. Health authorities advise avoiding cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding, while recognizing that research has limits and individual situations deserve a conversation with a health professional. Here is what that guidance means in practice. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) What researchers know—and what they don’t THC and CBD, compounds found in cannabis, can reach a developing fetus through the placenta. Cannabis chemicals can also pass into breast milk. Health Canada says there is not enough research to identify a safe amount during pregnancy or breastfeeding. That uncertainty is why its guidance recommends avoiding cannabis, rather than naming a dose or timing that can be considered safe. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) Studies have linked cannabis use during pregnancy with outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Researchers are still studying possible effects on a child’s later learning, behavior and development. These findings describe risks across groups; they cannot predict what will happen in any one pregnancy. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) A different product does not remove exposure Smoking is not the only route that matters. Health Canada says edibles and vaping are not safer alternatives during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and that cannabis is not recommended for morning sickness. CBD should not be assumed to be a safe workaround: it is one of the cannabis compounds that can cross the placenta and pass into breast milk. If you use cannabis for symptoms or a medical condition, ask your care provider about options suited to your circumstances. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) If cannabis has already been used Finding out about a pregnancy after using cannabis can bring worry or guilt. The guidance is about lowering exposure and getting support; it is not a prediction that harm has occurred. Health Canada advises that reducing or stopping use can lower the risk of harm and recommends speaking with a health care provider about an approach that works for you. If stopping feels difficult, say so plainly and ask what support is available. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) A useful conversation can start simply: “I use cannabis, and I’m pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Can we talk about what I should consider and what other options are available?” You can mention the product type, how often you use it, and why you use it. That information helps your provider respond to your situation. Health Canada also points readers to a conversation guide for people who feel uncomfortable raising the topic. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) Breastfeeding advice needs individual context Health Canada’s safest-choice guidance is to avoid cannabis while breastfeeding. THC can remain in breast milk for days to weeks, and pumping and discarding milk does not clear it. The U.S. CDC also advises against cannabis and CBD while breastfeeding because exposure and its effects are not fully understood. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html)[\[2\]](https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/vaccine-medication-drugs/marijuana.html) At the same time, ACOG’s clinical guidance says continued cannabis use is not, by itself, a reason to discourage breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding and have used cannabis or are finding it hard to stop, contact your health care provider before making feeding changes. They can help weigh the guidance alongside your and your baby’s circumstances. [\[3\]](https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/10/cannabis-use-during-pregnancy-and-lactation) The practical takeaway For pregnancy and breastfeeding, current guidance favors avoiding cannabis, including products labeled CBD, and getting professional advice about symptoms, treatment alternatives or support with stopping. The evidence is still developing, so a calm, honest conversation is more useful than relying on a product label or a promise that one form is risk-free. [\[1\]](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html)[\[2\]](https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/vaccine-medication-drugs/marijuana.html)[\[3\]](https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/10/cannabis-use-during-pregnancy-and-lactation) ## Sources - [Cannabis use before or during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/health-effects/before-during-pregnancy.html) - [Marijuana | Breastfeeding special circumstances](https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/vaccine-medication-drugs/marijuana.html) - [Cannabis Use During Pregnancy and Lactation](https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/10/cannabis-use-during-pregnancy-and-lactation) ## Continue reading - [Cannabis and mental health: when to seek professional advice for responsible cannabis use](https://420.camp/wiki/cannabis-mental-health-professional-advice.md) - [Cannabis and hiking: safety considerations for remote trips](https://420.camp/wiki/cannabis-hiking-safety-remote-trips.md) - [Responsible use](https://420.camp/wiki/responsible-use.md) ## Where to go next - [Check consumption rules](https://420.camp/where-to-smoke) - [More about Responsible use](https://420.camp/wiki?topic=responsible-use)