The use of marijuana could also impact on work performance especially in sectors where attention to details,
coordination or quick decision making is very essential like construction, transport, health care and policing sectors.
Acute and chronic effects of marijuana may include:
- Reduced levels of concentration and accuracy of the tasks
- Delayed response time
- Higher error rates and accident prone
- Fatigue and motivation loss, especially with long-term high-THC consumption
The problem is that employers have to find a balance between workplace safety and the rights of employees in the states where medical or recreational cannabis is legalized. The conventional drug screening procedures (e.g., urine tests) identify THC metabolites days after a person is no longer impaired, which only adds to the problem of managing risks and liability.
Accidental Ingestion and Pediatric Exposure
The recent spread of cannabis edibles,
with many taking the shape and form of candies or baked goods,
has caused a dramatic rise in accidental consumption, especially in children. In young children the ingestion of THC can lead to:
- Lethargy
- Respiratory depression
- Loss of coordination
- In severe cases, seizures or coma
Unintentional pediatric exposure visits to the emergency department have increased dramatically in states where recreational cannabis is legal. As a possible solution, a number of states currently implement child-resistant packaging, dose limits of THC, and edible cannabis products labeling.
Fire Hazards and Environmental Concerns
In home-grow operations or unregulated production settings,
marijuana cultivation and extraction can introduce additional safety risks:
- Electrical fires due to improper wiring or lighting setups
- Explosions caused by the use of flammable solvents in hash oil extraction
- Mold growth and indoor air quality hazards from poor ventilation
Ensuring compliance with local building codes and occupational safety regulations is essential for minimizing hazards in both home and commercial grow settings.
Legalization and Regulation
Over the past few decades, the legal status of marijuana has experienced a dramatic change ranging between total prohibition to a quilt of medical, decriminalized, and outright legalized systems in most jurisdictions. Even though this development indicates increased acceptability and recognition by the populace of the therapeutic potential of marijuana, there are regulatory, legal, and population health issues arising.
Federal State Differences
In the United States, marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which is the same legal status as heroin and LSD. The federal law states that Schedule I drugs are those which have no accepted medical use and a high potential to be abused, a designation that many scientists claim is no longer valid in light of modern science.
On the other hand, by 2025, marijuana will be legalized in 38 states of the United States and various territories with the country allowing its use in medicine, while 24 states and the District of Columbia have already legalized its recreational use by adults. Such state policies are constantly in contrast with federal law, which puts both consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, and businesses active in the cannabis sector in a legally uncertain position.
Such as, a state may legalize marijuana dispensaries,
but the dispensaries can also be subject to federal banking regulations,
IRC code constraints, and cannot receive federal grants or protection. And similarly, health providers working in federal systems (e.g., VA hospitals) might not be able to advise or even counsel on cannabis treatments, even in states where it is legal.