As more states look to legalize marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, more employees are reporting to work while high.
Key Details
- In 2022, marijuana use among U.S. workers reached a 25-year high, according to a study from Quest Diagnostics.
- After analyzing more than 6 million urine tests from workers in 2022, the company determined that 4.3% were positive—a jump from 3.9% in 2021.
- The company also found that 7.3% of workers injured while working also tested positive for marijuana, The New York Post reports.
- “This historic rise seems to correspond with sharp increases in positivity for marijuana in both pre-employment and post-accident drug tests, suggesting that changing societal attitudes about marijuana may be impacting workplace behaviors,” Quest vice president for employer solutions Keith Ward says.
Why it’s news
The public’s attitude toward marijuana use has become more positive over the last several years as multiple states have moved to legalize it for either medical or recreational purposes. This year, at least four states are putting recreational marijuana use on the ballot: Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
According to Quest’s study, marijuana usage increased as more states legalized the drug. If more states vote to allow cannabis use, the number of employees working while high may continue to rise, The New York Post reports.
Though the company noted that 7.3% of workers involved in a workplace injury also tested positive for marijuana, the National Institute of Health has found no connection between cannabis usage and workplace injuries.
Certain industries were more likely to have high workers than others. Positive tests among hospitality and food service employees rose 42.9%, retail workers increased by 42.6%, and positive tests in the finance and insurance industry jumped 38.5%.
While marijuana is the most common drug found during workplace drug testing, Quest also noted an increase in workers using other drugs, such as amphetamines. The number of positive tests reached 1.5%—up from 1.3% the year before. However, Quest’s study could not differentiate between prescription and illicit drug use.
In states where cannabis has been legalized, the number of employees working while high has increased more than in states where the drug has not been legalized. Cannabis use is completely legal in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Only four states—Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, and South Carolina—have not legalized cannabis use in any form. The remaining states have legalized medical marijuana usage, though seven have legalized CBD oil only.
