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Cannabis Sensitization and Allergy in Cannabis Industry Workers, Recreational Cannabis Users, and Nonusers: A

Callan Krevanko¹, Dorian Kenleigh, Niloufar Ghodsian

¹From the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.K., D.K., N.G., K.J., C.D.S., C.S.); and Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (C.S).

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

|August 8, 2025

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the study was to evaluate respiratory and allergic health symptoms and sensitization to cannabis in cannabis workers while controlling for recreational cannabis use.

Methods:

We compared allergic and respiratory symptoms, lung function, and airway inflammation among cannabis workers ( n = 42) and recreational cannabis users ( n = 20) and nonusers ( n = 20) with no occupational exposure.

Results:

In multivariable regressions adjusted for recreational cannabis use, cannabis workers trended toward increased airway inflammation and decreased pulmonary function when compared to nonworkers. Compared to nonworkers, cannabis workers exhibited increased odds of cannabis sensitization on skin prick test (odds ratio, 9.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 193; P = 0.05) and reported a higher prevalence of allergic symptoms (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.91, 16.9; P = 0.07).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that occupational exposures contribute to the respiratory and allergic effects seen in cannabis workers, regardless of recreational cannabis use.

Keywords:

allergy cannabis occupational health respiratory health sensitization workplace exposure

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