Medical Cannabis Users Were More Common in Construction and Mining Than Recreational-Only Users
Medical and mixed-use cannabis users among employed Americans were disproportionately concentrated in construction and mining industries, though many initial health differences between user groups disappeared after controlling for other factors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
While some differences in health and work outcomes were initially seen between medical, recreational, and mixed-use cannabis users, several disappeared after controlling for health-related factors. One persistent difference: medical and mixed-use cannabis users were more concentrated in construction and mining industries.
Key Numbers
Nearly 1 in 5 US employees reported past-year cannabis use. Medical and mixed-use cannabis users were significantly overrepresented in construction and mining.
How They Did This
Analysis of employed respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), comparing medical-only, recreational-only, and mixed-use cannabis users on workplace characteristics and health outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
Nearly one in five US employees reports past-year cannabis use. As legalization expands, employers need to understand whether medical and recreational users differ in ways that are relevant to workplace policies and safety.
The Bigger Picture
The distinction between medical and recreational cannabis use is central to workplace policy debates. This study suggests that once health factors are accounted for, the two groups may be more similar than different - except in their industry distribution.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional survey data. Self-reported cannabis use and medical status. NSDUH definitions of medical use may not match state-specific legal definitions. Cannot determine whether industry differences reflect job-related pain or other factors.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why are medical cannabis users concentrated in physically demanding industries?
- ?Does this reflect higher injury rates, chronic pain, or different cultural attitudes?
- ?Should workplace cannabis policies differ by industry?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Nearly 1 in 5 US employees reported past-year cannabis use; medical users were disproportionately in construction and mining.
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate - large national survey (NSDUH) with appropriate statistical controls, but cross-sectional and self-reported.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018. Workplace cannabis policies have evolved significantly since.
- Original Title:
- Comparing medical and recreational cannabis use among employees: associations with health and work-related outcomes.
- Published In:
- International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England), 30(3), 268-276 (2018)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01814
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do medical and recreational cannabis users differ as employees?
This study found that initial differences in health and work outcomes mostly disappeared after controlling for health-related factors. The main persistent difference was that medical users were more concentrated in construction and mining industries.
How common is cannabis use among workers?
Nearly one in five US employees reported past-year cannabis use according to this national survey data, making it a significant workplace consideration as legalization expands.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01814APA
Rineer, Jennifer R; Duhart Clarke, Sarah; Cluff, Laurie A; Peiper, Nicholas C. (2018). Comparing medical and recreational cannabis use among employees: associations with health and work-related outcomes.. International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England), 30(3), 268-276. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1465397
MLA
Rineer, Jennifer R, et al. "Comparing medical and recreational cannabis use among employees: associations with health and work-related outcomes.." International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1465397
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Comparing medical and recreational cannabis use among employ..." RTHC-01814. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rineer-2018-comparing-medical-and-recreational
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.