[MCOH-EH] Cannabis testing reply

[Wendland, Douglas]

Thank you Jonathan.

Douglas M Wendland, MD, MPH
St. Luke's Occupational Medicine

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Jonathan Rosen
Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2022 5:54 PM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Cannabis testing reply


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Cannabis testing does not measure impairment. The fact that the federal government has listed Cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance has stifled research including on impairment. Best estimates are that impairment lasts from 2 to 24 hours after smoking. Furthermore, other sources of impairment include occupational factors that are not even considered in assessing impairment. For example fatigue from working long hours, 12 hour or double shifts, mandatory overtime can be very impairing. Studies have shown fatigue to have similar effects to alcohol intoxication. Work related pain such as low back pain from inadequate patient transferring programs may also cause impairment. Stress from workplace bullying, patient or visitor aggression, and chronic understaffing can also cause significant impacts on worker health, well being, and performance. Decades of evidence shows that increasing RN to patient staffing improves patient outcomes, and yet California is the only state to have mandatory ratios. A study by Leigh revealed a reduction in RN injuries after that legislation passed. If we are really concerned with impairment, let's do something about the root causes instead of blaming the victim. Cannabis, unless it is used at work or a person has Cannabis Use Disorder, is low on the list of factors that may impair healthcare workers.

--
Jonathan Rosen, MS CIH
AJ Rosen & Associates LLC
110 Benjamin St
Schenectady, NY 12303
Jrosen396 at gmail.com<mailto:Jrosen396 at gmail.com>
(518)225-0882
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