IN DEFENSE OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS

Marijuana is now legal in 14 states as well as DC, with several more states likely to legalize it later this year. As the debate regarding the pros and cons of legalizing it continues, contrary to popular belief, new research suggests that recreational use may actually boost not hinder productivity in the workplace. Author, Geoff Colvin suggests that previous research to date on reduced productivity and safety in the workplace due to pot use has often focused on studies of younger populations and also likely over generalized the findings.  A new study out by researchers at William Paterson University, the University of Cincinnati, Temple University and the RAND Corporation, looked at workers’ compensation benefits received by people age 40-62 who work in states where marijuana has now been legalized. Instead of seeing the rather expected increase in payout of workers’ comp benefits, “annual income received from workers’ compensation…declines by 21% after recreational marijuana is legalized.” This decrease is not due to less people working. The likely reason behind this is actually better pain control. Once recreational marijuana is legalized, prescriptions filled for chronic pain medications declines.  Typically, older workers often suffer from more pain which could prevent them from working and/or increase their use of sick time. With legal access to recreational marijuana, “…older workers are much less likely to claim worker’s compensation benefits. They’re better able to work productively.” According to Colvin, being able to work not only increases income but also health and life satisfaction as well.

Source: Colvin, Geoff. “How cannabis actually affects productivity.” Fortune, February 16, 2021, https://fortune.com/2021/02/16/how-cannabis-affects-productivity-weed-marijuana/. Accessed 22 March 2021.