June 2025 Occupational Health Watch
Health and Safety in the Cannabis Industry
The Occupational Health Branch has published new web pages dedicated to health and safety education and resources for employers and workers in the cannabis industry.
Cannabis industry workers face numerous health hazards in their work, including but not limited to:
Asthma from inhaling cannabis dust. Two deaths at cannabis facilities to date – in California and Massachusetts – have been attributed to work-related asthma.
- Skin allergy risk and sensitization from touching cannabis plants.
- Chemical exposure hazards, including asthma, from cleaners and disinfectants.
- Pesticide exposure.
- Ergonomic problems related to trimming and other tasks.
- Heat illness.
- Workplace violence.
Many cannabis workers also encounter wage theft and other workers' right violations, in addition to security risks in both the manufacturing and retail cannabis environments.
These pages were developed in collaboration with worker and employer representatives and other state agencies, among others, to assemble resources that best address the challenges faced by those who work in the cannabis industry. The employer and worker pages link to a wide variety of content from organizations including the California Department of Cannabis Control, Cal/OSHA, the California State Compensation Insurance Fund and the Center for Workers' Rights.
The web pages are also available in Spanish and Hmong.
The health and safety web resources are the first step in an ongoing campaign to reach workers and employers in the cannabis industry and promote safer work practices.
Resources
Health and Safety in the Cannabis Industry
Email OHW@cdph.ca.gov with feedback about this update or change of address