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Legalized Recreational Marijuana: Safety, Ethical, and Legal Perceptions of the Workforce

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posted on 2023-08-30, 15:12 authored by Fred Sherratt, Katherine Welfare, Matthew Hallowell, Marzia Hoque Tania
Recreational drug use in construction is an area of concern for safety managers, and the legalization of marijuana in several US states may result in increased use among workers. Experimental approaches and policy creation are not straightforward because of the problems around existing methods of drug testing for marijuana that stem from the fact that its longevity in the body outlasts actual intoxication and a lack of scientific agreement of quantifiable long-term effects on work performance. Here, a social constructionist methodology has been adopted to explore perspectives of marijuana legalization as revealed through conversations with fifty construction site workers. Findings show that although legalization has had no impact on use amongst construction workers, impairment whilst at work remains unacceptable. A conflict now exists around personal freedoms and drug testing, leading to both resignation and dissatisfaction amongst workers. This could negatively influence the development of a positive safety culture on sites, and hinder worker engagement with safety overall. It is recommended that companies and unions recognize that blanket testing policies are problematic in practice, and support the development of accurate testing for immediate impairment from marijuana use.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

144

Issue number

6

Publication title

Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

ISSN

1943-7862

Publisher

American Society of Civil Engineers

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2018-03-21

Legacy creation date

2018-03-21

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)

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