In September, the House postponed a vote on the MORE Act (H.R.3884), which would de-schedule cannabis. Now that this legislation has passed the House and moves onto the Senate, safety leaders must again warn lawmakers to exercise caution. While the MORE Act includes some provisions that would not cause workplace safety concern, such as the removal of punitive actions for drug violations, any de-scheduling of cannabis must be done with care. Steps toward legalization need to include an evaluation of the impact that legalized cannabis use will have on transportation and workplace safety. We have an obligation to protect workers and all who use our roadways, and cannabis use can create serious risks in both environments.
Data should always drive policy decisions. Cannabis is an impairing substance whose use has been on the rise, and a substance without clear and scientifically defined levels of impairment. Unfortunately, no cannabis test currently exists that correlates well with impairment level such as breath alcohol or blood alcohol. At this time we know little about cannabis impairment, the side effects or long-term health implications, as well as the implications for workplace safety. These questions can only be answered through rigorous research.
We know that cannabis has the ability to impair, and on-the-job impairment can have serious consequences, particularly for…
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