Cannabis

Abstract

The cannabis industry has burgeoned in recent years and industrial hygienists are becoming more involved with the protection of workers who cultivate, harvest, process, and distribute these goods to the public. Law enforcement agencies involved with this industry also need to be aware of the associated hazards and controls necessary to protect their agents. To protect workers, industrial hygienists need to understand the production processes, goods produced, and be informed of the recognized hazards within the industry. The biological hazards include exposures to mold, allergens, and sensitizers. The chemical hazards include exposures to cannabinoids and terpenes from the Cannabis sativa plant, pesticides used during cultivation, extraction solvents, carbon dioxide used to enhance plant growth or in processing extracts, and carbon monoxide from combustion sources. The physical hazards include ergonomic issues with cultivation and harvesting, exposure to UV light outside and within indoor grow operations, heat stress, and potentially noise. The aim is to provide industrial hygienists enough background information and technical knowledge for proper recognition, evaluation, and control of the various known biological, chemical, and physical hazards associated with the industry, with a major focus on medical and recreational marijuana production.