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The cannabis industry and work-related respiratory disease

The legalized cannabis industry brings new occupational health challenges.

Respiratory hazards in the cannabis industry in Massachusetts and beyond

The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in Massachusetts in the 2010s brought new jobs and new work-related respiratory hazards to the Commonwealth.

Cannabis industry workers can be routinely exposed to various occupational respiratory hazards, including cannabis dust, mold, volatile organic compounds, pollen, bacterial endotoxins, pesticides, soil components, and cleaning disinfectants, which can cause and/or exacerbate chronic diseases, like asthma, if not addressed.

As of February 2024, Massachusetts had 367 licensed cannabis industry employers providing jobs to over 22,000 workers.

As of November 2023, Massachusetts was one of 38 states with a legalized cannabis industry (24 medical and recreational, 14 medical only).

First known occupational asthma fatality in the cannabis industry — Massachusetts, 2022

The first known occupational asthma fatality in the US cannabis workforce happened in 2022 in Massachusetts. As a result of this death, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released an investigative report and an issue of the Occupational Lung Disease Bulletin for Healthcare Providers devoted to this case. The investigation was also highlighted in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report.

Learn more about the 2022 cannabis industry asthma fatality:

The Occupational Health Surveillance Program continues to monitor work-related respiratory illnesses and fatalities among cannabis industry workers.

For more information:

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