Purpose of This Report
The rapid expansion of the medical and recreational cannabis industry has unfolded a plethora of economic and employment opportunities, with more than 430,000 individuals presently employed within the cannabis sector in the United States. However, despite this remarkable growth, our understanding of the potential occupational health hazards associated with cannabis production remains limited. The recent tragic death of a cannabis worker from occupational allergies and asthma has underscored the crucial need to understand the health risks associated with cannabis production; comprehensive health and safety programs need to be developed. Subsequent OSHA and NIOSH investigations have identified ground cannabis dust as a health hazard, and companies that do not follow OSHA’s hazard-abatement recommendations now face regulatory action. This report endeavors to provide an incisive analysis of the emerging health hazards within the cannabis industry, alongside actionable recommendations to empower business, health, and safety leaders in their maintenance of safe and productive working environments.
