While prior studies have shown that the stereotype of unmotivated, non-working stoners may not be true, a recent study has also shown this stereotype is also not all false too.
A recent analysis of 46,499 employed adults in the United States, utilizing data from the 2021–2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), has uncovered a significant relationship between cannabis use and increased workplace absenteeism. This comprehensive study reveals that both recent and frequent cannabis use, as well as cannabis use disorder (CUD), are associated with a higher likelihood of missing work, either due to illness or injury, or simply skipping work days altogether. The findings challenge the increasingly popular notion that cannabis is a harmless substance.
In this study, 15.9% of full-time employed adults reported using cannabis in the past month, with 6.5% meeting the criteria for CUD. The data shows that, over the past 30 days, individuals who had used cannabis recently but did not have CUD missed an average of 1.47 workdays due to illness. In contrast, those who had never used cannabis had a lower mean of 0.95 sick days. More concerning, however, is that individuals with CUD were 1.30 to 2.87 times more likely to miss or skip work compared to their counterparts without CUD.
The implications of these findings extend beyond those who are clinically diagnosed with CUD. Even infrequent cannabis users demonstrated an increased propensity for workplace absenteeism, suggesting that the effects of cannabis may be more pervasive and detrimental than commonly believed.
This pivotal study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
These findings underscore the need for a more nuanced understanding of the true impact of cannabis use, especially in the context of employment. The study’s evidence suggests that cannabis use, far from being benign, may have serious implications for workplace productivity and overall employee health, evidence by the increase use of sick days which will further burden other employees. As public opinion continues to shift in favor of cannabis, it is crucial to recognize and address the potential risks that accompany its use.
KH Yang et al. Cannabis Use, Use Disorder, and Workplace Absenteeism in the U.S., 2021–2022. American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.07.021
