Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or who plans to become pregnant soon should not consume cannabis (marijuana, hashish, weed, pot, etc.) as it can affect the health of your baby. Using cannabis can impair your judgement and coordination, and should only be used with caution. If you use, be aware that different forms of cannabis can have very different levels of THC (the psychoactive agent) and can cause severe reactions.
No matter how a pregnant person uses cannabis (smoking, vaping, eating or drinking), the active ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinaol (THC), will reach their baby in three ways:
- Through the bloodstream and into the placenta (the organ that feeds your baby during pregnancy).
- Through breast milk. “Pumping and dumping” doesn’t work. THC is stored in fat cells and is slowly released over several weeks, so it stays in your breast milk.
- Through secondhand smoke that enters the baby’s lungs.
No amount of cannabis is considered to be safe. Leading doctors’ organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that people who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant soon, discontinue use of cannabis.
If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant soon, stop using cannabis. If you need help to stop using cannabis, dial 2-1-1 or go to healthvermont.gov/find-treatment to find treatment options near you.
Vermont Department of Health
108 Cherry Street, Suite 207
Burlington, VT
802-651-1550
[email protected]