1 in 3 cannabis users have used it in the workplace, survey finds

New survey shows that 36.7% of users say they consume cannabis while in the office. Picture: Reuters

New survey shows that 36.7% of users say they consume cannabis while in the office. Picture: Reuters

Published Nov 16, 2022

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Cape Town – A new anonymous survey has found that 36.7% of users admit to consuming cannabis while in the office.

With only days before The Cannabis Expo returns to the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, the public had responded to an eye-opening anonymous survey about the cannabis consumption habits of South Africans.

The online survey canvassed cannabis users across South Africa, all respondents having used or consumed cannabis in some form this past year.

The most fascinating result is that 36.7% consume cannabis in the workplace or while working.

“It’s always fascinating to see how people’s attitudes towards cannabis is evolving year on year as legislation opens up," says The Cannabis Expo director Silas Howarth.

“Important discussions around cannabis use in the workplace are being held at the expo in Sandton. It will be interesting to see the options that organisations have to mitigate risks.

“We find that most cannabis users find positive health and other benefits from cannabis, and in many cases even say that it improves their productivity."

However, how corporates feel about cannabis use in their workforce while on the job, in this rapidly-changing permissive environment and with so many different ways to consume cannabis, companies and employers may struggle to accurately test and prohibit workplace cannabis usage.

Other notable survey results show that 81% of survey respondents say that they have consumed cannabis edibles and 76.7% claim to experience positive health benefits from using cannabis.

Meanwhile, 63.3% said that their cannabis consumption has increased since legalisation changed in 2018, and 93.3% believe that legalisation is of significant benefit to the South African economy.

The Cannabis Expo this weekend will have the widest range of topicals and CBD medication from the industry’s leading retailers. With a notable increase in the micro-dosing of medicinal mushrooms, there’ll be the Shroom Expo where the public can learn everything there is to know about the healing properties of psilocybins with a panel of experts leading a variety of workshops as well a broad range of the latest available products in the field.

More than 150 exhibitors and speakers, cannabis-infused cuisine at the Food Market and completely legal free-usage areas within the Freedom Music Festival featuring some of the country’s hottest DJs, will also be an event highlight.

The Cannabis Expo takes place from November 18 to 20, between 10am and 9pm (4pm on Sunday), at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Tickets and VIP delegate passes available at www.TheCannabisExpo.co.za or at the door.

Cape Times