When Black Moms Decide To Use Weed For Postpartum Healing

Note:Thisarticle includes discussions of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

When I became pregnant with my first child, I did what I thought good moms do: I stopped smoking weed. 

Then, in 2017, about two years after giving birth to my firstborn, I began to notice trending stories about so-called “marijuana moms.” These women were smoking pot because it made them better parents, and many outlets seemed open to normalizing this concept by amplifying their stories. Perhaps, I thought, this is a sign that the stigma around mothers who use cannabis was beginning to dissolve. 

To my dismay, however, the images of this cannabis-based alternative parenting lifestyle did not include anyone who looked like me. Of course, it was suddenly OK (and even liberating) to consume weed as a mom — as long as you’re white.

It appears that the racial stigma of cannabis use permeates every single social demographic. To disrupt that as best as I could, I created Blunt Blowin’ Mama, an online cannabis lifestyle community that aims to normalize conversations around weed use by Black and brown mothers while highlighting the BIWOC impacting change.I have spoken to hundreds of women since launching the platform, and they’ve collectively imparted one major takeaway: Moms who use cannabis do so because they believe it makes them better humans and better parents. And Black women deserve that option, too.

While there’s a growing discourse amongst new mothers (and everyone else) about consuming cannabis during pregnancy, most medical experts do not recommend it. Many Black moms, such as myself, are focused instead on the potential postpartum benefits. This is a gray area I had to explore by speaking with mothers from my community about their experiences with cannabis, as well as experts (of all races) about the plant’s effects — and racial bias within the medical system.

The most salient concern about women who use weed after they’ve given birth is the chance of harming the baby through breast milk. And researchers are just now starting to examine that “chance.” As of now, there isn’t enough data to certainly predict, for example, when it would be safe to breastfeed again after smoking, vaping, or ingesting cannabis, says Dr. Sonal Patel, a Denver-based pediatrician and postpartum maternal health care specialist at NayaCare Clinic.

While she advises that “cannabis should be avoided after birth and as long as you are planning to breastfeed,” Patel encourages mamas to have an open dialogue with their physician about the subject of weed use. And if a parent feels their care provider is judging them regarding cannabis, they should swiftly find another.

The lack of empirical data on postpartum weed use was the overarching concern of all the experts I spoke to (think about how challenging, ethically, it is to launch medical studies on cannabis and breastfeeding). “There is very limited research about cannabis while breastfeeding. Because we don’t know the long-term effects on birthing people and their infants, I agree with major organizations such as ACOG, CDC, and AAP who recommend against the use of marijuana if breastfeeding,” says Dr. Libby Wetterer, assistant professor and fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health at UPenn’s Health System.

As the CDC reminds us, the data on how cannabis can affect a child through breast milk is both under-researched and conflicting — therefore, seen as a sizable risk. “It’s difficult to assess the harms of using cannabis while breastfeeding because most patients that use cannabis while breastfeeding also used it during pregnancy,” says Dr. Genester Wilson-King, a Florida-based integrated health doctor, OB-GYN, and cannabis educator. “THC and the other cannabinoids in their active form are lipophilic, meaning they like fat, and breast milk is very fatty, so it accumulates in the breast milk. So we are passing it to the baby, and we need to be cognizant of that.”

How risky that is to the baby is still up for debate. In 2021,the American Academy of Pediatrics published a study that found premature babies who consumed breast milk with THC in it experienced no adverse effects on their short-term health and development. This is one small but important piece of research that will hopefully encourage experts to dig deeper into how we can use cannabis safely as new mothers. After all, look at the abundance of studies that arose when I googled the effects of prescription antidepressants on breastfeeding people. 

It should be noted that most doctors wouldn’t encourage cannabis use for anyone, let alone a postpartum birthing person because of risks posed specifically around regular users’ long-term lung and cognitive health. Still, the bits of research and anecdotal evidence on how cannabis has helped people manage cancer, mental illness, and chronic physical illness is remarkable — and so, much of the medical community is optimistic.

Medical professionals who are vocal about the positive side of weed, while few and far between, assert that it can be especially useful, if consumed responsibly, to combat stress. “Cannabis can lower stress and anxiety, and allow the mom to focus her attention on the baby, where it is needed,” says Wilson-King. “A mom’s job is never done. It’s a beautiful job, and cannabis can help make it less stressful, less anxiety-producing, and maybe put it in a more comfortable realm.”

After giving birth to my second child in 2019, I developed postpartum depression that lasted for two years. Cannabis became an incredibly helpful mental health tool for me. On the nights when I actually found sleep (my insomnia was raging), I slept with a kitchen knife in the second drawer of my nightstand in case I decided life was too much.

I had trouble shedding over 30 pounds of pregnancy weight during this time. My home wasn’t being taken care of, and unfinished projects were strewn everywhere. But with the help of therapy, the support of my mom and my mindful use of cannabis, I was able to get back to myself. 

Now on the other side of my postpartum depression, I can reflect on how important cannabis was to my healing process. However, I don’t, in any way, believe that cannabis is a cure-all for mental illness that may arise during postpartum. All I know is the road to healing looks different for every birthing person — and this is what it was like for me.

Cannabis can be helpful for the management of anxiety, depression, PTSD and sleep disturbances ― with the assistance of a mental health provider, says Angela Banks, a Cleveland-based licensed therapist and founder of The Clarity Couch Counseling Services. For parents considering cannabis to cope with mental health symptoms, she tells me, professional guidance can “help you weigh the potential benefits and risks, and monitor for any side effects to ensure it’s a safe option for you.”

I am vocal about my experience with cannabis postpartum because I believe women (especially those who look like me) need to know cannabis is an option for their healing journey. This is why we have to address the deep chasm that exists between white women, who get to use weed during their early motherhood journey, and Black and brown women — who often face severe scrutiny if they do.

Cannabis was also a powerful coping tool for Kimberly King, a Philadelphia mother of two who I met through my social media community. After having her second son, King knew she needed recovery support and pain management treatment — and cannabis was a substance that she knew and trusted.

“Sometimes it’s a little infused cookie to start the day,” she says. “Other times, it’s a bong hit in the morning air, 60 seconds of peace and alone time before checking into the job that doesn’t stop: motherhood.”

King was a weed smoker before becoming a mom, but her frequency of consumption lessened after having children. Like so many other Black women who have a healthy level of skepticism about the American pharmaceutical and medical systems, she opted for what she felt was a more natural drug.

Our relationship with the U.S. health care system has always beencomplicated, to put it mildly. For Black women, the implicit bias present in medicine often means their pain will be dismissed or disregarded. In a 2016 dual study, for example, researchers found that white medical students harbored inaccurate, racist sentiments regarding Black patients that would inevitably inform the way they practice medicine. The medical students believed that Black patients had “thicker skin” and somehow felt less physical pain than white patients. In recent years, there has been mountains of evidence to reveal these beliefs and behaviors in medical history — all the way down to today. 

“People are legitimately mistrustful of physicians and the health care system, as a whole, which has not historically prioritized women’s health — specifically the reproductive health needs of Black women. So I completely understand why some people use cannabis postpartum,” says Dr. Mishka Terplan, OB-GYN and medical director at Friends Research Institute, a mental health nonprofit in Baltimore. “In my experience, most people don’t want to harm themselves or their infant ― and they are often seeking information about cannabis in pregnancy and breastfeeding ― but health professionals rarely provide useful information to people, which can compound their mistrust.” 

From abysmal maternal death rates to the lack of medical encouragement regarding breastfeeding, the challenges that come with Black motherhood can feel insurmountable.

Tropes such as the strong Black woman often only mask our trauma and stress, with the strong “cape” hiding any underlying mental or emotional health issues we may face. Many Black women present as unbreakable for their families, loved ones, colleagues and community. But at home, we just want to lay down our armor and be our softest selves. Becoming a mother doesn’t change that.

“Black women need to think about putting themselves first in their postpartum journey,” says Jakora Thompson, a 39-year-old mom in New Jersey. “The best mom is one who is whole and in a good headspace. Cannabis does that for me. It is another tool for choosing to prioritize yourself so that you can be there for your family.” 

Thompson also does not believe that cannabis is a cure-all for postpartum conditions, but for her, it was one tool in a comprehensive toolkit for healing.

Her cannabis usage was accompanied by sessions with her therapist to ensure that she was “doing the work” and checking in with herself often. “I was firm in being still a woman before being a mom, meaning I need to do what’s necessary for my own mental health,” Thompson says.

In the past, she’d dealt with high-functioning anxiety that often manifested as insomnia, a sense of hopelessness, and hair-pulling. As a new mom, she could feel those old symptoms of anxiety creeping back in and decided to use cannabis to treat them. 

Thompson says she consumed cannabis after delivering her baby to feel like herself again, so she took a 5-milligram edible (a relatively low dose) at home while her partner was there to support her. Her intention was simple: relieve the stress of trying to pump additional breast milk as a breastfeeding mama healing from a C-section.

While many of us are thirsty for more information on both the positive and negative effects of cannabis on our mental health, researchers are still scratching the surface.

While so many cannabis users discuss how weed has alleviated their anxiety and depression, some research, explained in a CNN piece, has found that weed use can raise the risk “of an onset of a psychotic or mental health disorder, and using it after the onset of a mental condition worsened clinical outcomes.” It’s important for all of us to be aware of the spectrum of potential any drug has on our minds. Terplan notes that cannabis’ current federal classification only contributes to the lack of conclusive research on it.

Brianna Ash, a 27-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona, feels strongly about spreading the cannabis gospel so other Black women know they have options.

“Being a mother is tough, mentally, physically and emotionally,” she says. “And many times, Black women tend to get spoken over and ignored. If people just took the time to listen to them speak about why they decided to consume, maybe they would learn a thing or two.” 

Ash, who delivered her baby at a birthing center with only the aid of midwives, successfully used weed for pain management during labor. She consumed cannabis again for her anxiety only a few short hours after giving birth. Ash tells me that today, cannabis helps her be an active mom who taps into her inner child so she can “be silly” with her baby. 

Black moms exist at a unique intersection of race, gender and motherhood ― and many are discovering that cannabis can help them thrive and be present for motherhood’s precious moments while avoiding the harmful Black-mom stereotypes of being the loud and aggressive disciplinarian.  

So what does a future look like where Black birthing people are respected, and perhaps begin their motherhood journey feeling supported and strong?

“It’s important for health care professionals to place value on whole person-centered care,” Sandra Guynes, a San Diego-based RN and cannabis educator, tells me. “Treating each person as an individual helps us identify any concerns before it’s too late [and] not allowing our biases to cloud our ability to provide personalized care that takes into consideration potential risks for sensitive populations.”

While physicians checking their biases and becoming more informed helps Black women feel more comfortable in medical environments, there’s still the issue of the legality of weed in the U.S.

Black people are disproportionately arrested for cannabis offenses (nearly four times more than white people) despite Black and white people consuming cannabis at “roughly equal rates.” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also found in a 2020 report that “in every state and in over 95% of counties with more than 30,000 people in which at least 1% of the residents are Black, Black people are arrested at higher rates than white people for marijuana possession.” 

Despite cannabis being legal for recreational adult use in 24 states and decriminalized in 32 states, the national trends in racial disparities among weed possession arrests have remained unchanged since 2010. That disparity is glaring among Black women cannabis users; think about how (the childless) Sha’carri Richardson was treated when her weed use went public.

All the women in this story expressed concern about the repercussions they could face because they’re Black moms who smoke weed.

“Cannabis may show up in the urine drug screen of a breastfed infant,” Wetterer explains. Black and brown parents have been historically unfairly targeted via the so-called war on drugs and, therefore, “are more likely to be tested for drug use, problematically sometimes without patient consent, and also more likely to have their children taken away if they are reported to the family regulation system commonly known as Children Protective Services.”

Wetterer criticizes this protocol. “I do not think that anyone should be surveilled or criminalized or have their parenting drawn into question if they do decide to use cannabis.”

Black moms are also confronted by a deeply-rooted stigma against cannabis in their own communities. Systemic racism has broken down so many Black families by jailing parents for charges linked to weed that the fear of prison or loss of employment made weed a common enemy. But hopefully, the tide continues to shift. 

Today, it’s evident from the incredible women in my community that Black moms understand that cannabis use is their right — and that the racist connotations assigned to certain drugs need to be dismantled. If the medical community begins to see cannabis as another drug that we should approach with hope and caution, we may be able to get far more use out of it. 

“It’s OK for moms to romanticize having a glass of wine at the end of the day, but for some reason, people think moms who consume cannabis are hotboxing their homes while rocking the baby to sleep,” King says. “There are so many ways to consume cannabis responsibly and still show up as a great parent.” 

Our children’s health is always paramount — and that’s a fact. But it’s become overwhelmingly evident, through my conversations with Black birthing cannabis enthusiasts, that showing up as a great parent every day means being your most authentic self. That requires remembering who you were before the baby was born and keeping that person alive, too. We can’t pour from an empty vessel, after all. And sometimes, to keep our vessel full, it needs the support of a one-hitter packed with ganja.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.