Ground Cannabis Dust Is A Hazardous Chemical, Confirms Massachusetts Regulator
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission issued new recommendations Wednesday through a bulletin designed to improve workplace health and safety at marijuana processing facilities and broadly across the legal industry.
The announcement represents the Commission’s formal recognition of ground cannabis dust as a hazardous chemical that can irritate the respiratory system and exposed skin and marks a major step towards updating Massachusetts’ workplace safety expectations following the 2022 occupational asthma death of a Holyoke processing facility employee.
“Today’s bulletin is intended to bring increased awareness of an identified health risk in the marijuana industry and will support Commission and industry efforts to enhance safety standards across Massachusetts,” stated commission acting executive director/chief people officer Debbie Hilton-Creek. “We will continue to partner with licensees to appropriately and effectively communicate this message and depend on them to implement protocols that will protect the overall well-being of our workforce.”
Under the new bulletin, the Commission recommends that all licensees engaged in marijuana processing follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines around hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The Commission also reminds licensees of its obligation to have a hazard communication program which includes the evaluation of hazardous chemicals in its facility and develop Safety Data Sheets to inform its employees.
Going forward, the Commission is advising licensees engaged in marijuana processing to protect employees from hazards associated with cannabis dust exposure by using engineering controls …