Secondhand smoke from cannabis has many of the same cancer-causing chemicals as smoke from tobacco. A smoke-free environment is safest and healthiest. Don’t allow smoking in your home or around your baby.

Substance use is a topic that is discussed with all families throughout the prenatal and birthing period. This is not to punish or shame someone, but merely an avenue to have an open conversation with a family about the potential risks of substance use and identify any resources the family might benefit from. If your baby has been exposed to THC/cannabis or other substances during pregnancy or after birth, they may be identified as benefiting from a Plan of Safe Care. Through respectful, collaborative, strengths-based conversation, Maine’s Plan of Safe Care is created between a healthcare or social services provider, mother and/or other caregivers, identifying family strengths and needs, beneficial resources and actions to best support substance exposed infants and families. Through the Plan of Safe Care, families can also be referred to resources such as Maine WIC Nutrition Program, Maine’s Early Intervention Program, Public Health Nursing, and Maine Families.

A Plan of Safe Care can be created prenatally or following birth and can be added to or modified during the first year of a child’s life.

If your child eats or drinks cannabis, they may need immediate medical help. Some symptoms to look out for include: problems walking or sitting up, difficulty breathing, and becoming drowsy. If a child may have eaten cannabis, call the poison control hotline, 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if it’s an emergency.