Workplace Absences Decline Following Medical Marijuana Legalization

The adoption of state laws regulating medical marijuana access is associated with declining trends in workplace absences, according to data published in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health.

Researchers from the United States and India assessed whether either medical cannabis laws or adult-use legalization laws are associated with changes in health-related workplace absenteeism.

Consistent with prior research, investigators reported that workers are less likely to be absent due to illness following medical cannabis legalization. By contrast, adult-use legalization was not associated with any significant changes in absenteeism.

Researchers reported: “This study identifies a statistically significant and quantitatively meaningful effect of medical cannabis laws in the United States on reducing health-related workplace absenteeism. … The absenteeism-reducing effects of medical cannabis decriminalization are concentrated in occupations and industries in which chronic pain, physical strain, and job-related stress are plausibly important determinants of missed work. … Our results are consistent with [the notion that] medical cannabis access improves symptom management and reduces sickness absence.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Our findings fit within the broader literature showing that improved access to symptom-relieving treatments can affect labor market outcomes. … Future research should attempt to link cannabis use, underlying health conditions, occupation, and multiple dimensions of workplace performance.”

Separate observational studies have identified declines in fatal workplace accidents and in workers’ compensation claims, as well as increases in the total number of hours worked per week, following the adoption of medical cannabis access laws.