Marijuana Use by Professions: Marijuana use is widespread across various sectors of society, but some professions have notably higher consumption rates. Understanding which industries or professions consume the most marijuana provides insight into workplace culture, stress levels, and social norms within these fields. This comprehensive analysis explores the top 7 professions with the highest marijuana consumption, backed by data and studies, to uncover the reasons behind these trends and the personas of typical users.
The Top 7 Professions with the Highest Marijuana Consumption
1. Creative Arts and Design
- Consumption Rate: A 2018 study by SAMHSA found that 16.5% of workers in the creative arts and design sector reported using marijuana in the past month.
- Reasons: Creative professionals often work irregular hours, face high levels of stress, and need inspiration. Marijuana is perceived to enhance creativity and relaxation. Research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2019) supports this, showing that many artists believe marijuana enhances their creative output.
- User Persona: Artists, designers, and writers use marijuana to boost creativity, manage stress, and enhance their work-life balance.
2. Food Service and Hospitality
- Consumption Rate: The food service industry sees a high rate of marijuana consumption, with around 19.1% of workers using it monthly, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- Reasons: This profession involves long, irregular hours and high-stress environments. Marijuana is often used for relaxation after long shifts and to manage anxiety. A 2015 study in Substance Use & Misuse found that food service workers often use marijuana to cope with job-related stress and the physically demanding nature of their work.
- User Persona: Chefs, bartenders, and waitstaff use marijuana to unwind after work, alleviate physical pain from long hours on their feet, and cope with high stress levels.
3. Construction and Extraction
- Consumption Rate: Approximately 15.8% of workers in construction and extraction reported marijuana use, according to the same SAMHSA report.
- Reasons: The physically demanding nature of the work, combined with safety concerns and stress, leads some workers to use marijuana for pain relief and relaxation. A 2018 study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that construction workers often use marijuana to manage chronic pain and reduce stress.
- User Persona: Construction workers and miners use marijuana to relieve chronic pain, manage stress, and improve sleep quality.
4. Entertainment and Sports
- Consumption Rate: In the entertainment and sports industry, around 12.4% of professionals use marijuana regularly.
- Reasons: The high-profile, high-pressure nature of these professions, along with the culture of recreational drug use, contributes to this trend. A 2016 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that athletes and entertainers often use marijuana for pain management and relaxation.
- User Persona: Athletes, actors, and musicians use marijuana for relaxation, pain management, and as a part of social activities.
5. Technology and IT
- Consumption Rate: According to a report by Blind, 10.3% of tech professionals reported using marijuana.
- Reasons: High stress, long hours, and a culture of innovation and creativity drive marijuana use in this sector. A 2019 study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that tech workers often use marijuana to unwind and enhance creativity.
- User Persona: Software developers, IT consultants, and tech entrepreneurs use marijuana to unwind, enhance creativity, and manage the demands of their work.
6. Healthcare and Social Assistance
- Consumption Rate: Despite strict regulations, 7.7% of healthcare workers reported marijuana use.
- Reasons: High stress, emotional toll, and long hours contribute to marijuana use for relaxation and stress relief. A 2020 study in the Journal of Nursing Management found that healthcare professionals often use marijuana to cope with job-related stress and emotional burnout.
- User Persona: Nurses, social workers, and therapists use marijuana to manage stress, emotional burnout, and irregular sleep patterns.
7. Education and Training
- Consumption Rate: About 5.7% of professionals in education and training use marijuana.
- Reasons: High levels of stress, workload, and the need for stress management lead to marijuana use. A 2017 study in the Journal of School Health found that educators often use marijuana to manage stress and enhance creativity in lesson planning.
- User Persona: Teachers, trainers, and academic staff use marijuana to manage stress, enhance creativity, and relax after work.
Graph: Marijuana Use by Profession (Percentage of Workers Reporting Monthly Use)
Marijuana consumption varies significantly across different professions, driven by factors such as job stress, workplace culture, and the nature of the work. Creative fields, food service, and physically demanding jobs like construction see the highest usage rates due to their inherent stressors and lifestyle demands. Understanding these trends helps to shed light on the broader social and cultural implications of marijuana use in the workplace. As attitudes and legal standings on marijuana continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these patterns change and what new trends emerge. Marijuana Use by Profession, we hope you enjoyed this post.
Read more about marijuana in the workplace, click here