Stress, Mental Health, and Coping Among Workers in the Northern California Cannabis Industry: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

California is home to a multibillion-dollar cannabis (marijuana) industry, but little is known about the occupational health and safety hazards faced by cannabis workers and even less of the stress, mental health, and coping mechanisms among these workers. Previous research has been based on long-term workers at legal businesses, but most California cannabis is produced and sold unlawfully. There are many seasonal workers whose experiences have not been studied. A qualitative study based on focus group discussions and key informant interviews was performed to understand cannabis workers’ experiences, knowledge, and perceptions of occupational hazards. Participants reported sources of stress including production pressure and isolation, and mental health outcomes such as depression and mental fatigue. They described primarily maladaptive coping mechanisms. Unique characteristics of the cannabis industry, including criminalization and isolated, remote farms, make interventions challenging. However, policy approaches that involve community organizations could promote worker health.

Recognize Aerosol Transmissible Disease and Require Appropriate Protections; Promote Worker Driven Biomonitoring and Worker Driven Remedy; Restrict Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture; Legalize Marijuana Federally and Require Pot Purveyors to Sign Neutrality Agreements with Labor Unions

“…The other agricultural product whose production and use is examined in this issue is cannabis. 8 Through qualitative research, Beckman and colleagues 8 identified occupational psychosocial hazards for cannabis workers such as long hours, repetitive tasks, geographic and social isolation, emotional labor, high demand and low control, workplace bullying and workplace violence. They identified some policy anomalies in this industry that make these problems difficult to address.…”