Strategies for Dealing with Effect of Cannabis in the Workplace

The regulations surrounding cannabis changed on April 23, 2026, when the Department of Justice announced that FDA-approved cannabis products and products containing cannabis subject to a Qualifying State-issued License are moving from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

For EHS professionals, this is an important issue as a 2024 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that 15.9% of full-time employed adults used cannabis in the past month, and 6.5% met criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD). 

The same study found that more recent and frequent use, as well as greater CUD severity, were associated with higher rates of both illness and injury-related absences and skipped work.

A 2024 systematic literature review in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that THC-containing cannabis products in healthy volunteers were associated with slower reaction time and impaired attention, learning, and working memory, with stronger effects at higher THC doses. 

To help employers deal with this issue, the National Safety Council  (NSC) offers advice on the issue in its article "Cannabis and Safety: It's Complicated. 

Recommendations for Employers

1. Establishing a clear, fair cannabis policy that prevents impairment in the workplace and provides support for employees

2. Building a safety-focused, trusting culture for employees to report cannabis use near or during work hours

3. Advocating for increased access to employee assistance programs (EAPs) and evidence-based health care benefits for those with substance use disorders

4. Training supervisors to recognize and respond to impairment in the workplace; learn more about NSC training at nsc.org/ImpairmentTraining

See additional NSC recommendations for employers to address cannabis in the workplace.