ARTICLE
Marijuana in the Workplace - What is it costing your business?

According to studies published in The Western Journal of Medicine, marijuana smokers tend to use more sick days and have more doctor visits for respiratory problems than people who do not use marijuana. Marijuana causes frequent respiratory infections, daily cough, chronic bronchitis, phlegm and more frequent chest colds.

Longer-term usage of marijuana can cause lung tissue to become impaired or destroyed. Marijuana also impairs the immune system and causes cancer. Depression, anxiety, and personality disturbances are also higher with workers who use marijuana.

What does this mean to you as an employer? Marijuana use can cause higher rates of unexcused absences, increased employee turnover, and decreased productivity in the workplace. In addition to reduced productivity, company morale is negatively impacted, causing good employees to leave the company to avoid drug-impaired co-workers. Studies show that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug and that 70% of drug users are part of the nation's workforce. Without screening, no business is immune to the negative impact and ripple effects of this drug.

(Sources: The White House Office of National Drug Control policy and National Institute on Drug Abuse, Drug Abuse Recognition Training)