Funnily enough, I was just yesterday contemplating posting almost this exact 
question to Lactnet!  I recently spoke with a woman who said that she is on 
medicinal marijuane (has an official card) and that with her first child, her 
pediatrician had no concerns with her breastfeeding, and that she did so for 
quite some time.  I know nothing about her inpatient lactation care with the 
first child, and did not delve into it as it did not feel right at the time.  I read 
Dr. Hale's post on Lactnet from 1996, and what I gleaned from that was that 
(and please correct me if my understanding was wrong) the occasional use of 
marijuana in a breastfeeding mother would likely be less detrimental to the 
baby than switching to formula feeding.

However, if I look at 2006 Hale's Medications and Mothers' Milk, marijuana is 
listed as an L5.  A review of the section on marijuana in the Textbook of 
Human Lactation shows that studies have not been consistent regarding the 
impact on breastfeeding infants whose mothers smoke marijuana. The 
recommendations are  - to educate moms that there could be a possible 
effect on the infant, that breastmilk can contain residues for a long period of 
time, that their infants will likely test positive in drug screens for several 
weeks, and that the AAP contraindicates the use of marijuana during 
breastfeeding.

Basically, I can see no way, in a highly litigious society, to make a 
recommendation that an occasional use of marijuana may not have a negative 
impact on an infant.

I suppose ultimately that is because formula is still seen as 'just as good' as 
breastmilk.

Has anyone else found a way, within a healthcare setting, to advocate for 
continued breastfeeding in a mom with a need for medicinal marijuana?  I know 
this differs from the use of marijuana that is considered recreational, but I 
wonder if the recommendations for breastfeeding could be justified when the 
marijuana is for 'medicinal' purposes rather than not.

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome