11-07-2024
The Centers for Disease Control reviewed cannabis use among U.S. workers using data from 2016 to 2020. Relying on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, researchers gathered data from 128,615 individuals living in 15 states. They found significant differences in marijuana use across different industries and occupations. In sum, individuals working in food service, hospitality, the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media reported the highest use of cannabis. Law enforcement, health care providers, and library and education workers reported the lowest use.
The participants were paid, self-employed, or out of work for less than a year. They came from Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The sectors using cannabis the most were accommodation and food services (20.7%); arts, entertainment, and recreation (17.5%); and construction (15.9%). The sectors using cannabis the least were management of companies and enterprises (5.4%), public administration (3.7%), and utilities (3.4%). More than one-fifth of those surveyed used marijuana for medical reasons.
The overall use of marijuana for these fifteen states was 10.7% for individuals over 18. This number is lower than a 2021 national survey, most likely because the CDC study focused on employed individuals. Moreover, only two of the fifteen states allowed marijuana use for nonmedical purposes at the time of the survey. The researchers suggest these findings may impact workplace drug policies, efforts to reduce the negative impact of marijuana, and give more accurate information to workers and employers. They warn of potential safety risks from cannabis use, particularly in safety-sensitive positions with high risks. It is unclear how much of the drug’s use was away from work.