Marijuana Trends and the Workplace

E-Cigarettes

You've seen them everywhere and may know someone who uses one. Electronic cigarettes, looking like regular cigarettes, have become the latest smoking-related trend. The slim e-cigarette holds liquid nicotine that, when heated into a vapor, can be inhaled. There is no smoke, only water vapor. The liquid nicotine, also known as e-liquids or e-juice, are trendy and hip; sold in some areas at "juice bars" and offered in fruity flavors such as strawberry, peach, and mango, among others.

In fact, they are becoming so popular that “Big Tobacco” has targeted young adults in their advertising featuring popular celebrity influencers using the e-cigs in social clubs.

Proponents say using these types of devices are "safer" than actual cigarettes - yielding no carcinogens from the smoke, little or no odor, reduced social stigma, and can allow persons serious about quitting a tobacco habit or addiction to step-down the amount of nicotine consumed.

While this method is purported to assist some people to stop smoking cigarettes, it has enabled many others to continue or increase their habit publicly. It has become so popular that it has created a reverse affect and enticed non-smokers or occasional smokers to start using these devices.

By bringing e-cigs into the mainstream, it is changing attitudes about the methods of consuming substances such as tobacco or related products like nicotine with no evidence that it is safe.

Vaporizers

One of the most prevalent marijuana trends is personal vaporizers or vape pens. Vape pens are akin to the e-cig and work similarly. Sleek and tech-savvy, the rechargeable devices can be plugged into a USB port or wall adapter. They allow for a manner of consuming highly concentrated, extremely potent THC resin or extracts of marijuana called dabs, wax, hash oil or butter, or butane hash oil which averages 40 to 80% THC content. For reference, in the U.S., the THC content of dried marijuana averaged about 4% in 1995 with today's dried pot averaging about 20% THC. Dabs are to marijuana what grain alcohol is to alcohol.

This method, called "dabbing," involves placing a small amount of the dabs, wax or hash oil into the vape pen which highly heats and vaporizes the substance into the inhalable vapor. People, including teens, buy the very strong hash oils to fill ordinary e-cigs making the use of cannabis in those devices virtually indistinguishable from the liquid nicotine. In many countries, e-cigs and vape pens are sold everywhere and vials of hash oil are easily obtainable online or through the black market.  The oil based THC concentrate has been identified in creating lung damage as the oil vapor coats the lining of the lungs resulting in hospitalizations and some deaths.

With the trend of easy-to-obtain and discreet personal devices like e-cigs and vape pens making the perception of harm from traditional smoking a thing of the past, the number of users will likely increase dramatically in the coming years.

Mitigating The Impact to the Workplace

With virtually an undetectable smell, the use of an inconspicuous e-cig or vape pen means that nearly anywhere can become a "smoking area," including the workplace, school, a car, restroom, public transportation, and sporting events.

Workplace policies and procedures should be reviewed annually to determine that they meet the employer's needs and standards. Conveying these policies to all employees ensures that employees are aware of what is expected. Supervisors and managers can help protect their working environment not only by being familiar with their employer’s drug-free workplace policy, but by becoming educated on the signs and symptoms of substance abuse. They should be observant of employees and address work performance or behavior issues promptly and consistently. Company leaders may wish to provide advanced training to ensure their supervisory staff is skilled in addressing workplace behavior concerns. It goes without saying that properly documenting all employee issues in accordance with company policy is very important.

Of course, utilizing drug testing is invaluable as a tool in determining the facts when the possibility of substance use or misuse is present. Ultimately, being educated, observant, and consistent will be the best approach to dealing with substance use in the workplace, both now and in the future.

What do you think? Does your workplace have a policy that bans smoking or the use of e-cigs or vapes at work?  Would banning smoking/e-cigs/vapes in the workplace be accepted by workers? What would be their concerns? What would be your concerns?