Marijuana use and its legalization has been a hot topic of national debate these past few years.
A report last week that cannabis compounds might have the ability to block COVID-19 has renewed the discussion.
With marijuana dispensaries opening for business in and around the city, why is there still so much stigma around its use and why are so many employers still screening for it as part of the employment process?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019 a reported 18% of Americans — 48.2 million people — used marijuana at least once despite the fact it is a federally illegal drug. Much of the literature and studies around marijuana use generally talk about the negative side effects and potential for substance abuse and misuse. There are very few articles on the benefits because many researchers are not able to run studies due to the illegal status of the drug.
The few patient surveys and studies come from states that have legalized it for medical use, predominantly for chronic pain. A 2014 study conducted in Hawaii that surveyed patients using medical marijuana to treat chronic pain reported significant pain relief after use. Some reported it also helped with stress/anxiety, insomnia, nausea and appetite.
Recreational marijuana use has been legal in Massachusetts since 2016 with licensed sales opening up in 2018, but that hasn’t stopped employers from screening for marijuana as part of the hiring process. This practice…
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Marijuana use and its legalization has been a hot topic of national debate these past few years.
A report last week that cannabis compounds might have the ability to block COVID-19 has renewed the discussion.
With marijuana dispensaries opening for business in and around the city, why is there still so much stigma around its use and why are so many employers still screening for it as part of the employment process?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019 a reported 18% of Americans — 48.2 million people — used marijuana at least once despite the fact it is a federally illegal drug. Much of the literature and studies around marijuana use generally talk about the negative side effects and potential for substance abuse and misuse. There are very few articles on the benefits because many researchers are not able to run studies due to the illegal status of the drug.
The few patient surveys and studies come from states that have legalized it for medical use, predominantly for chronic pain. A 2014 study conducted in Hawaii that surveyed patients using medical marijuana to treat chronic pain reported significant pain relief after use. Some reported it also helped with stress/anxiety, insomnia, nausea and appetite.
Recreational marijuana use has been legal in Massachusetts since 2016 with licensed sales opening up in 2018, but that hasn’t stopped employers from screening for marijuana as part of the hiring process. This practice…
