The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Marijuana's last taboo: Parents who get stoned

By Ellen McCarthy

28 Sep 2022 · 9 min read

Editor's Note

In this fascinating feature, WaPo speaks to parents who regularly use cannabis and related products and how society perceives this trend.

When Suzy found out she was pregnant with her first child, she stopped smoking pot immediately. She had used cannabis recreationally, on weekends, since her early 20s, but didn't want to do anything that might harm the baby.

After giving birth, Suzy fell into postpartum depression. She loved her baby, but she couldn't figure out how to love herself. Relief was hard to come by; she was scared to take antidepressants while breastfeeding. She considered turning back to cannabis, but worried that doctors might detect it in her baby's bloodstream and take the child away.

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