I saw an article severeal yrs ago where a research facility was set up in
Arkansas to do reasearch on dangers of marijuana  -esp. with regard to
child-bearing women.  I keep waiting for data, or something in the
literature.  As much money as has been spent looking for specific damage
you'd think there would be something more compelling made public on which to
base warning mothers to either wean or stop smoking it.  I do not smoke
marijuana.  I do not advocate the use of marijuana.  However, I was around
during the 60's when this was commonly done without the same kind of
awareness/stigma there is today.  There is certainly a large population of
people who could contribute information about the general health of their
kids -- some of whom are old enough to be reproducing themselves.

I like to be shown specific research which suggests advice stems from fact
not some belief system or agenda.  I heard Ruth Lawrence say (Dallas, 1992?
93?) that she would rather see a mother who used only marijuana continue to
nurse than to wean and continue to use.  She felt these mothers were in
danger of failing to bond with their infants if forced to make this kind of
a choice.  There is a difference between casual pot use and impairment due
to chronic heavy use of any drug including marijuana and alcohol.  Those
infants have mothers who cannot function in terms of caring for them.
Residential treatment and 12 Step programs are good options, but only if the
mother is ready to chose recovery.  Their infants may need foster care or
strong support from other family members until that happens.

As a child abuse/neglect caseworker prior to LC work, the bonding issue of
breastfeeding is the place where the chain begins to be broken, IMO.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC
priv. pract.Austin, Tx
Owner LACTNEWS On-Line (the Conference page)
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html