SURVEY SHOWS MARIJUANA USE IN U.S. DOUBLES IN DECADE

Where has America’s changing attitude towards marijuana got us? According to a new government study;  a doubling of marijuana use over the last decade. Anyone who has taken a recent trip through Colorado can attest to the fact that obtaining marijuana no longer entails knowing “that person” who always has extra to sell. You’ll find more marijuana storefronts than Starbucks. The same is true in Oregon and no doubt will be true in each state as new legalization laws have passed. Recreational use is now permitted in four U.S. states. The study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry,  compared health surveys from 2001-2002 and 2012-2013.

What, if anything should employers do with this new information?

Think “Safety”

First, realize that despite America’s changing attitudes, realize that marijuana use is still a workplace safety issue similar to how alcohol is legal, but is still a serious workplace safety issue. Today’s marijuana isn’t the same marijuana that came to be associated with the peace and love hippie movement. New strains of marijuana can be 3X or more potent that the marijuana of the 60’s and 70s. “Old” marijuana had a potency of somewhere around 4%.  New strains can have a potency of 20% or more. There is an entire subculture dedicated to increasing potency. The effects of ingesting “new” marijuana are largely unstudied. And smoke-able marijuana is only the half of it. Ingesting edible marijuana and “dabbing” (super concentrated THC) are trends on the rise.

Some studies show that as many as 10% of employees have shown up to work high. This is corroborated with another study that 1 in 10 small employers say employees have been under the influence on the job.

Marijuana is a mind altering drug. Despite what the pro-pot crowd says, users of marijuana, especially “new” marijuana, experience alarming mental effects. We’ve blogged recently about some insane user accounts that would make you think twice about even allowing one of these users to operate a garden hose, more or less a crane,  forklift or iron smelter. The short-term effects of marijuana include distorted perception; loss of coordination; and problems with memory, learning and problem-solving, according to DEA.

Implement Employee Education

Employers should absolutely ensure their employees have a very clear understanding of the consequences of use as defined by your drug free workplace policy. Having them complete a easy to implement online course at AtHandTraining.com (shameless plug alert) wouldn’t hurt either. Employees should be given the opportunity to hear new information about the harmful effects of marijuana use to counter the onslaught of pro-marijuana press they are exposed to from the very vocal pro-pot crowd.

Employers should also ensure that supervisors are trained to spot the signs and symptoms of drug abuse; know how to properly intervene, and document their observations. This is particularly important if employees are performing safety sensitive duties. Companies who receive federal grant money are subject to federal drug testing laws which require 2 hours of DOT supervisor training (FMCSA, FTA, PHMSA, FAA, USCG and FRA). This is more than just a safety issue; this is a liability issue that has the potential to put many small companies out of business. Would a drug-related fatal workplace accident put your company out of business? Would a drug related crime damage your organization’s reputation?

Think “Employee Health”

• It may surprise you to learn that marijuana is considered addictive to 9% of users (NIDA).
• Mental and physical. Frequent marijuana users often report irritability, mood and sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, cravings, restlessness, and/or various forms of physical discomfort that peak within the first week after quitting and last up to 2 weeks. Temporary hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though they are not. Temporary paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others. Worsening symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder with symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking. (Mayo Clinic)
• Breathing problems. Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can have the same breathing problems that tobacco smokers have. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections (American Lung Assoc.)
• Increased heart rate. Marijuana raises heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. This effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk.
• (related, cause unknown)