Occupational medicine guideline says cannabis is not recommended for common workplace injuries and conditions
An ACOEM guideline found no quality evidence supporting cannabis for common work-related pain conditions, documented many adverse effects, and recommended against use in safety-sensitive positions.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Some evidence for MS spasticity, but no quality evidence for back pain, radiculopathy, neuropathic pain, or other common work-related pain. Quality evidence supports lack of efficacy for postoperative pain. Documented adverse effects include cancers, cardiovascular diseases, psychotic disorders, and safety risks.
Key Numbers
Efficacy evidence: some for MS spasticity only. No quality evidence for: back pain, radiculopathy, neuropathic pain. Evidence against: postoperative pain. Harms: cancers, cardiovascular, psychotic disorders, safety risks.
How They Did This
Evidence-based guideline developed using ACOEM methodology, systematically reviewing evidence on cannabis efficacy and safety for work-related conditions.
Why This Research Matters
As legalization expands, employers face pressure to allow cannabis. This provides evidence-based grounds for workplace policies, particularly for safety-sensitive positions.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between public perception of cannabis as a pain treatment and the evidence base has direct workplace safety implications.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Guidelines reflect evidence at publication; new trials may change recommendations. May reflect conservative occupational medicine perspective.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will ongoing trials change the chronic pain picture?
- ?How should employers handle workers using cannabis for other conditions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No quality evidence of efficacy for back pain, neuropathic pain, or other common work conditions
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic evidence-based guideline using ACOEM methodology, a high standard for occupational medicine recommendations.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis.
- Published In:
- Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 67(12), e860-e871 (2025)
- Authors:
- Feinberg, Steven D, Aronoff, Gerald M, Ausfahl, James, Bruns, Daniel, Darnall, Beth D, Goldberg, Robert L, Haldeman, Scott, Lessenger, James E, Mandel, Steven, Mayer, Tom G, Navani, Annu H, Osbahr, Albert J, Warren, Pamela A, Winters, Thomas H, Harris, Jeffrey S, Hegmann, Kurt T
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06444
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis work for workplace injury pain?
According to this guideline, no quality evidence supports cannabis for common work-related conditions. Only MS spasticity has some supporting evidence.
Can workers use cannabis in safety-sensitive jobs?
The guideline recommends against it, citing documented adverse effects on cognition, reaction time, and safety.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
- cannabis-security-clearances-federal-government
- thc-and-exercise-working-out-high
- using-cannabis-at-work-risks-rights-science
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06444APA
Feinberg, Steven D; Aronoff, Gerald M; Ausfahl, James; Bruns, Daniel; Darnall, Beth D; Goldberg, Robert L; Haldeman, Scott; Lessenger, James E; Mandel, Steven; Mayer, Tom G; Navani, Annu H; Osbahr, Albert J; Warren, Pamela A; Winters, Thomas H; Harris, Jeffrey S; Hegmann, Kurt T. (2025). Cannabis.. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 67(12), e860-e871. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003548
MLA
Feinberg, Steven D, et al. "Cannabis.." Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003548
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis." RTHC-06444. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/feinberg-2025-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.