Study Finds Workplace Fatalities Dropped In States With Medical Cannabis
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap]ccording to new data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, medical cannabis programs are associated with year-over-year declines in fatal workplace accidents.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1992 to 2015, researchers found that workplace deaths dropped by nearly 34 percent on average within five years in states that legalized medical cannabis. The study focuses on two age groups; workers aged 25-44 and workers aged 16-24.
For workers aged 25-44, researchers associated legal medical cannabis laws with a 19.5 percent decrease in the expected number of workplace deaths. Researchers also found a reduction in workplace deaths for workers aged 16-24, although the number was found not to be statistically significant. The data shows that legalizing medical cannabis didn’t lead to an increase in workplace fatalities, rather the association between legal medical cannabis and a decline in workplace fatalities grew over time.
The study only looked at THC and not CBD, which is used for pain relief and doesn’t produce the psychoactive effects THC produces. Patients consuming CBD for their medical needs might not be under the effect at work but because there is limited research, there are no observable increases in workplace accidents. The researchers point to previous studies that show patients prefer cannabis over opioids and that legal medical cannabis leads to a decrease in the consumption of other substances like alcohol and opioids, which have a significant impact on motor and cognitive functions, and in turn makes for a safer workplace.
Opponents of allowing employees to use medical cannabis often argue that cannabis could lead to more workplace injuries. A recent study has shown that nearly half of Americans in states with legal recreational cannabis have admitted to going to work while under the influence and working while high could have a different result as opposed to the findings of the study, but the research offers a new perspective on cannabis use for employees.
