It’s Official: Legal Cannabis Results in Fewer Worker Injuries and Greater Productivity

A new study found that fears over an increase in workers’ comp injuries due to recreational cannabis legalization may be overblown.

A working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research reports that researchers found workers’ comp claims decreased and workplace productivity rose in states where recreational cannabis usage is legal.

The study was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Not only did the paper find that workers compensation benefit propensity and amounts decreased post-recreational marijuana legalization, it also theorizes that allowing adult cannabis use might lead to a rise in productivity because it offers workers a tool for managing conditions like chronic pain.

The study examined the effect of state recreational marijuana laws on the amount of workers’ compensation benefits received by adults aged 40-62.