Cannabis use by U.S. industry statistics infographic showing 20.7% cannabis use in food services, 4.5% urine drug test positivity in 2024, 7.3% post-accident positivity, and the April 2026 DOJ partial rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III, based on Quest Diagnostics 2025 Drug Testing Index and BRFSS workforce data.

Cannabis Use Among U.S. Workers by Industry: 40+ Statistics Through 2025-26

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Cannabis Use Among U.S. Workers by Industry: 40+ Statistics Through 2025-26
Marijuana is the most frequently detected drug in U.S. workplace drug tests – by a wide margin. In 2024, urine test positivity for marijuana reached 4.5% in the general workforce, while oral fluid testing showed 10.4% positivity. Post-accident marijuana positivity was 7.3% in 2024, just below the record 7.5% in 2023. And on April 23, 2026, the DOJ partially rescheduled marijuana to Schedule III – without changing DOT or federal workplace testing rules. This article compiles 40+ statistics on cannabis use by industry, drug testing trends, workplace safety impact, and the evolving legal landscape through 2025-26.
40+ Statistics
Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI
Industry Breakdown
April 2026 Rescheduling Update
4.5%
Marijuana urine test positivity in the general U.S. workforce in 2024 – the highest drug category, outpacing amphetamines at 1.7%
Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI (8M+ tests)
20.7%
Past 30-day cannabis use rate among accommodation and food service workers – the highest of any industry in BRFSS data
AJPH / BRFSS 2016-2020 study
7.3%
Post-accident marijuana positivity in the general U.S. workforce in 2024 – near the record 7.5% set in 2023
Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI

Cannabis is now legal for recreational use in 24 states, and 15% of Americans identify as active marijuana users – the highest proportion since Gallup began asking the question. In the workforce, the numbers are equally striking. Over 64 million Americans used cannabis in 2024, the highest ever recorded. Yet the federal classification, the DOT testing rules, and the safety evidence have not changed in a way that makes workplace cannabis use less consequential for employers or safety managers.

Marijuana positivity rates in drug tests have climbed steadily since 2015. Post-accident positivity hit a record high in 2023 and remained near that level in 2024. Recreational marijuana laws in states have been associated with a 10% increase in workplace injuries among workers aged 20 to 34. And on April 23, 2026, the DOJ partially moved state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III – without changing federal workplace testing obligations. Below we have compiled 40+ statistics on cannabis use by industry, drug testing data, safety impact, and the current legal landscape through 2025-26.

Editor's Choice: Key Cannabis Workforce Statistics for 2025-26

15.9%
of full-time employed adults used cannabis in the past month, per a 2024 American Journal of Preventive Medicine study – and 6.5% met criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD). (AJPM, 2024)
10.4%
marijuana positivity from oral fluid tests in 2024 – more than double the urine test rate, reflecting more recent use patterns that urine testing may undercount. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
114%
increase in post-accident marijuana positivity between 2015 and 2023 in the general U.S. workforce – from 3.5% to 7.5%, a nine-year trend driven by legalization and rising use. (Quest Diagnostics, May 2024)
7.7%
increase in workers’ compensation claim frequency at the 1.7-year mark after a state enacts recreational marijuana laws – rising to 15% by the fifth year, per WCRI 2025 research. (WCRI, 2025)
8%
of all workers and 21% of past-year cannabis consumers said they used cannabis shortly before or at work, per a 2025 cross-sectional analysis. Among daily consumers, the proportion was even higher. (NSC / 2025 study)
64.2M
Americans used cannabis in 2024 – the highest number ever recorded, up from prior years, reflecting continued growth driven by legalization in 24 states for adult recreational use. (Upmetrics / industry data, 2026)

1. National Snapshot: Cannabis Use Among U.S. Workers in 2024-25

10.7%
past 30-day use, adult workers (BRFSS, 15 states)
AJPH study, 2016-2020
15.9%
past 30-day use, full-time employed adults
AJPM study, 2024
15%
active marijuana users among all Americans
Gallup 2023-2024
64.2M
Americans used cannabis in 2024 – highest ever
Upmetrics, 2026
  • A 2024 study in the American Journal of Public Health analyzing BRFSS data from 15 states found 10.7% of adult workers reported past 30-day cannabis use – with rates varying widely by industry, occupation, age, and education. (AJPH, November 2024)
  • A more recent 2024 American Journal of Preventive Medicine study focusing on full-time workers found a higher rate: 15.9% of full-time employed adults used cannabis in the past month, and 6.5% met diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder. (AJPM, 2024; NSC)
  • Gallup’s 2023-2024 combined data shows 15% of Americans identify as active marijuana users, up slightly from 14% in 2021-2022 and dramatically higher than the 4% who reported trying marijuana when Gallup first asked the question in 1969. (Gallup / Flowhub, 2026)
  • 64.2 million Americans used cannabis in 2024 – the highest number ever recorded – driven by legalization in 24 states for adult recreational use and continued growth in both medical and social use patterns. (Upmetrics, April 2026)
  • A 2025 cross-sectional analysis found approximately 8% of all workers said they used cannabis shortly before or at work, and 21% of past-year cannabis consumers reported the same. Among daily consumers, the proportion reporting on-the-job use was substantially higher. (NSC, citing 2025 study)

2. Cannabis Use by Industry: Which Sectors Show the Highest and Lowest Rates

Past 30-Day Cannabis Use by Industry – Weighted Prevalence (BRFSS, 15 States, 2016-2020)
Accommodation and Food Services
20.7%
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
~18%
Construction and Extraction
~15%
Retail Trade
~12%
Manufacturing
~10%
Transportation and Warehousing
~8%
Healthcare and Social Assistance
~6%
Finance and Insurance
~5%
Source: American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) analysis of BRFSS data, 15 states, 2016-2020. Published November 2024.
  • Accommodation and food services had the highest cannabis use rate at 20.7% – more than one in five workers reporting past 30-day use. The occupation group with the highest rate was food preparation and service at 21.9%. (AJPH, November 2024)
  • Arts, entertainment, and recreation workers showed the second-highest rates, followed by construction and extraction workers – a sector with significant safety implications given the physical hazards involved and the prevalence of use among workers. (AJPH, 2024)
  • Construction is a particularly high-risk combination: elevated cannabis use prevalence paired with heavy equipment operation, fall hazards, and confined space work. Marijuana positivity in construction workers has been among the highest of any safety-sensitive industry in drug testing data. (AJPH; Quest Diagnostics)
  • Healthcare and social assistance workers showed among the lowest rates, alongside finance and insurance and education services – sectors typically characterized by stricter professional licensing requirements, mandatory background checks, and organizational drug-free workplace policies. (AJPH, 2024)
  • Transportation and warehousing sits below the national average, reflecting the DOT federal testing mandate for safety-sensitive transportation workers – commercial drivers, pilots, and rail operators – which creates a strong deterrent regardless of state legalization. (AJPH; DOT drug testing rules)

3. Workplace Drug Testing: Marijuana Positivity Data Through 2024-25

4.5%
Urine test positivity, general workforce (2024)
Quest DTI 2025
10.4%
Oral fluid test positivity, general workforce (2024)
Quest DTI 2025
9.8%
Hair test positivity, general workforce (2024)
Quest DTI 2025
0.87%
Federally mandated (DOT) urine test positivity (2024)
Quest DTI 2025
  • The 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index analyzed more than 8 million drug test results from 2024. Marijuana positivity for the general workforce from urine tests was 4.5% – far outpacing amphetamines at 1.7%, the second most common positive result. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • Oral fluid testing showed marijuana positivity of 10.4% in 2024 – more than double the urine rate, reflecting that oral fluid captures more recent use patterns and is more resistant to specimen tampering or substitution. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • Hair testing showed 9.8% marijuana positivity in 2024, with cocaine second at 2.8% – reflecting the longer detection window of hair testing, which captures use patterns over the preceding 90 days rather than recent days. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • For federally mandated (DOT-regulated) tests, marijuana was the most detected drug at 0.87% in 2024, with amphetamines second at 0.80%. The lower rate for federally mandated workers reflects the strong deterrent effect of regular DOT testing on commercial drivers, pilots, and safety-sensitive transport workers. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • General workforce urine marijuana positivity has increased from 3.6% in 2020 to 4.5% in 2024 – a consistent upward trend that correlates directly with state-level recreational marijuana legalization. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • The 2026 Quest Diagnostics DTI (analyzing 2025 test data) reported the combined workforce urine drug positivity held at 4.3%, a decrease of 2.3% compared to 4.4% in 2024, with marijuana continuing as the primary driver. In the general workforce specifically, marijuana positivity reached 4.4% and oral fluid positivity reached 11.1%. (Quest Diagnostics 2026 DTI / PR Newswire, July 2026)

4. Workplace Safety Impact: Post-Accident Positivity and Injury Statistics

7.5% (2023) / 7.3% (2024)
Post-accident marijuana positivity in the general U.S. workforce – record high in 2023, near-record in 2024. Represents a 114% increase from 2015. (Quest Diagnostics, 2023-2025)
10% more injuries
Recreational marijuana laws associated with a 10% increase in workplace injuries among workers aged 20-34, per a 2024 JAMA Health Forum study. (JAMA Health Forum, February 2024)
2x crash risk
Cannabis use nearly doubles the risk of car crashes, according to studies cited by DISA. In 2024, more than one-third of fatally injured drivers tested positive for cannabis. (DISA; NSC)
  • Post-accident marijuana positivity was 7.3% in 2024 – just below the record 7.5% set in 2023, which was itself the culmination of a nine-year upward trend. Between 2015 and 2023, post-accident marijuana positivity increased 114.3% in the general U.S. workforce. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • A February 2024 study in JAMA Health Forum found recreational marijuana laws allowing retail sales were associated with a 10% increase in workplace injuries among individuals aged 20 to 34 years – the demographic with the highest cannabis use rates. (JAMA Health Forum, February 2024; Quest Diagnostics, May 2024)
  • The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute’s 2025 report found that enactment of a recreational marijuana law leads to a 7.7% increase in workers’ compensation claim frequency at the 1.7-year mark, rising to a 15% increase by the fifth year. (WCRI, 2025; Quest Diagnostics insight)
  • In a 2024 study of fatally injured drivers in the United States, more than one-third tested positive for cannabis. Drivers in states with recreational cannabis laws had significantly higher odds of cannabis positivity than drivers in states without such laws. (NSC, citing 2024 study)
  • Cannabis affects cognitive skills critical to workplace safety: attention, reaction time, short-term memory, coordination, and judgment. The duration of impairment varies by potency, consumption method, and individual tolerance – making policy enforcement more complex than alcohol impairment assessment. (NSC; DISA)
  • The 2024 AJPM study found that more frequent cannabis use and greater cannabis use disorder severity were associated with higher rates of illness, injury-related absences, and skipped work – documenting a productivity and safety cost beyond the injury statistics alone. (AJPM, 2024; NSC)

5. The Legal Landscape in 2025-26: Legalization, Rescheduling, and Employer Obligations

Dec 18, 2025
President Trump signed Executive Order directing DOJ to expedite marijuana rescheduling to Schedule III in the most expeditious manner in accordance with federal law.
Apr 23-28, 2026
DOJ/DEA order: FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana immediately moved to Schedule III. Broader rescheduling hearing scheduled for June 29, 2026. All other marijuana remains Schedule I.
Current DOT Status
DOT safety-sensitive rules and testing prohibitions remain fully unchanged. Rescheduling does not affect DOT 49 CFR Part 40 requirements. Federal transportation workers may not use marijuana, even in legal states.
24 States
Adult-use recreational cannabis is now legal in 24 states. Legal state status does not override employer drug-free workplace policies, federal contractor requirements, or DOT testing obligations.
  • On April 23, 2026, the DOJ issued a final order immediately moving FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana subject to a state medical marijuana license from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act – effective April 28, 2026. (DOJ press release; Seyfarth Shaw, June 2026)
  • The April 2026 rescheduling order is limited in scope: it covers only FDA-approved products and state-licensed medical marijuana. All other marijuana – recreational cannabis, most bulk marijuana, and products outside these regulatory channels – remains Schedule I under federal law. (Gibson Dunn, April 2026)
  • The partial rescheduling does not override state marijuana or employment laws, DOT testing requirements, or federal workplace drug testing rules. DOT-regulated employers must maintain current policies, testing panels, and enforcement procedures. (DISA, December 2025; DATCS, May 2026)
  • A DEA administrative hearing on broader rescheduling of all marijuana to Schedule III is scheduled to begin June 29, 2026 – a proceeding that could significantly reshape federal marijuana policy, employer obligations, and workplace testing authority. (DEA.gov; Moritz College of Law, 2026)
  • Adult-use recreational cannabis is now legal in 24 states. Employers in those states must navigate overlapping requirements including state medical marijuana statutes, disability discrimination laws, off-duty conduct protections, and state-specific limitations on employment drug testing. (Seyfarth Shaw, June 2026)
  • Support for legalizing cannabis reached 87% in survey data, and cannabis tax revenue reached $25 billion nationally – nearly double that of alcohol. The commercial and political momentum for full legalization continues even as the federal regulatory picture remains unsettled. (Flowhub, 2026)

6. High-Risk Industry Focus: Construction, Transportation, and Food Services

Construction and Extraction
High cannabis use prevalence combined with the highest-fatality rate of any U.S. industry. Fall hazards, heavy equipment, and confined spaces make impairment particularly dangerous. Among the industries with highest drug test positivity in Quest data.
Transportation and Warehousing
Despite below-average cannabis use rates due to DOT testing, marijuana remains the #1 detected drug in federally mandated tests at 0.87% in 2024 – ahead of amphetamines at 0.80%. Commercial vehicle crashes have severe consequences.
Accommodation and Food Services
Highest cannabis use of any industry at 20.7%. Safety risks include kitchen hazards, hot equipment, and high-pressure environments. Flexible schedules, younger workers, and lower testing rates contribute to the high prevalence figure.
  • Construction’s combination of high cannabis use prevalence and hazardous physical working conditions – heavy equipment, elevated work surfaces, excavation hazards – creates a compounded safety risk that industry safety programs must specifically address. (AJPH, 2024; industry safety data)
  • In transportation, marijuana is the most detected drug in federally mandated tests even at the lower 0.87% rate – with amphetamines second at 0.80%. The existence of DOT testing creates a meaningful deterrent, but the drug remains present in the safety-sensitive transport workforce. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI)
  • Food preparation and service workers showed the highest rate of any occupation group at 21.9% past 30-day use. Workplace injuries in this sector – burns, cuts, slips – may be influenced by impairment from cannabis or other substances, though the causal relationship is difficult to isolate. (AJPH, 2024)
  • Healthcare and social assistance showed among the lowest cannabis use rates, reflecting professional licensing consequences, mandatory background check environments, and the nature of patient care responsibilities. Substance use policies in healthcare are among the most rigorously enforced in any sector. (AJPH, 2024)

7. What the Data Means for Employers: Policy, Testing, and Compliance in 2025-26

Maintain marijuana in drug test panel
Post-accident testing is critical
DOT rules unchanged – no exceptions
Monitor April 2026 rescheduling impact
State law variability requires legal review
Consider oral fluid or hair testing
  • Quest Diagnostics recommends employers think twice before dropping marijuana from their drug test panel – when employees and job applicants fail a drug test, it is usually because they used marijuana. The trend has been increasing annually since 2015. (Quest Diagnostics 2025 DTI insight)
  • Oral fluid testing detects more recent marijuana use – typically within hours to days – compared to urine testing, which detects metabolites that persist for weeks in frequent users. For safety-sensitive employers concerned about on-the-job impairment, oral fluid provides a more relevant detection window. (Quest Diagnostics; PMC study, 2025)
  • The April 2026 DOJ rescheduling order does not change employer obligations for non-medical or recreational cannabis. Federal contractors, DOT-regulated employers, and organizations in safety-sensitive industries retain full authority to prohibit cannabis use and enforce drug-free workplace policies. (Seyfarth Shaw, June 2026; DISA)
  • State law complexity is increasing. Employers in states with recreational marijuana laws must now navigate medical marijuana accommodation requirements, off-duty conduct protections, and disability discrimination considerations – particularly when employees present medical marijuana documentation in response to a positive test. (Seyfarth Shaw, June 2026)
  • The National Safety Council recommends employers not wait for legal clarity to build cannabis safety programs. The safety evidence – post-accident positivity, injury rate increases, impairment duration – supports proactive policy regardless of state legal status. (NSC Cannabis and Safety resource)

Key Takeaways for Safety Managers and HR Professionals

Marijuana is the dominant workforce drug issue – by far
In drug testing data from 8 million tests, marijuana positivity (4.5% urine, 10.4% oral fluid, 9.8% hair) outpaces every other substance. Amphetamines are second at 1.7%. For workforce safety programs, cannabis is not one concern among many – it is the primary concern.
Post-accident positivity at near-record levels
At 7.3% in 2024 – just below the 2023 record of 7.5% – post-accident marijuana positivity has increased 114% since 2015. This is the most direct data point connecting cannabis use to actual workplace incidents, and it is trending in the wrong direction.
Industry risk is not uniform – target high-prevalence sectors
Food services (20.7%), arts and entertainment (~18%), and construction (~15%) show markedly higher cannabis use than healthcare (~6%) or finance (~5%). Safety programs, testing frequencies, and supervisory training should be calibrated to the actual prevalence in each sector.
April 2026 rescheduling does NOT change workplace testing obligations
The DOJ/DEA order moves state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III – not recreational cannabis, not all marijuana. DOT testing rules, federal contractor requirements, and safety-sensitive employment prohibitions remain unchanged. Organizations that paused policy review pending rescheduling should not interpret this order as relief from testing obligations.
Workers’ comp costs rise with legalization – with a five-year lag
WCRI’s 2025 research shows a 7.7% increase in workers’ compensation claims at 1.7 years after recreational legalization, rising to 15% by year five. Employers in recently-legalized states should anticipate rising claim frequency even if they see no immediate change in post-accident test results.
Watch the June 2026 DEA hearing for broader rescheduling
The expedited administrative hearing beginning June 29, 2026 could result in broader Schedule III reclassification of all marijuana. If that rulemaking proceeds, it may affect federal workplace testing authority. Safety managers should monitor the outcome and update policy frameworks before any reclassification takes effect.

Sources

Government and Regulatory Sources

Industry and Research Sources

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