ATLANTA — States that legalize medical cannabis experience a drop in health-related workplace absences, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
Researchers found that health-related work absences fell by about 7% in locations where medical marijuana was legal or decriminalized.
The study analyzed survey responses from more than 20 million people in a U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics dataset collected between 1990 and 2025.
[DOWNLOAD:Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
More than 40 states have legal medical cannabis programs.
Although the dataset could not directly confirm that individual absence reductions were specifically due to cannabis use for pain management, medical marijuana is used to treat symptoms of physical, mental, and muscular conditions.
RELATED STORIES:
- Medical cannabis dispensaries may soon operate closer to schools, daycares and churches
- Marijuana home delivery may soon be legal in Georgia
- More potent marijuana products now available in Georgia under new law
The decrease in workplace absences was most pronounced in physically demanding jobs, including manual labor, machinery operation, construction and agriculture.
Significant drops in health-related absences were also observed among health service workers, such as dental assistants and nursing aides.
In contrast, recreational cannabis laws did not impact health-related absenteeism, regardless of whether recreational sales were legal or possession was decriminalized.
[SIGN UP:WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
“Work absenteeism costs a lot for employers, with one estimate putting that total at $225 billion annually in lost productivity alone,” said Patryk Babiarz, associate professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “Medical marijuana could actually save hundreds of millions of dollars in economic cost simply because people are not missing work.”
Researchers noted that the study did not examine potential negative health or behavioral outcomes associated with marijuana use.