There are mounting concerns about the respiratory health of workers in the legalized cannabis industry. In the new multistate study, “Work-Related Asthma in the Cannabis Industry: Findings From California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington,” researchers are calling for an increased need for preventive strategies and workplace safety policies to protect employees in this rapidly growing industry.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, examined surveillance data from California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington, identifying 30 cases of work-related asthma (WRA) since cannabis legalization began in these states.
The findings show that 66.7% of affected workers were between 18 and 34 years old, and 60% were male. Of these cases, 52% were classified as new-onset asthma, while 48% were work-aggravated asthma, with two fatalities reported.
The most common exposure linked to WRA was plant material — primarily cannabis dust and marijuana plant particles — accounting for 40.4% of cases. Nearly 70% of affected workers were employed in indoor cultivation or processing facilities, where airborne particles are more concentrated.
The study’s authors called for improved ventilation, the use of personal protective equipment and regular health screenings.
As cannabis legalization expands nationwide, the study highlights an urgent call for industry-wide respiratory hazard interventions to safeguard worker health.
