New York’s Cutthroat Professionals Are Turning to Marijuana Vaporizers

Since decriminalization of marijuana took place, more New York professionals are turning to marijuana vaping to relieve their job-related stress. Some admit to using their vape pens during work hours. There’s even stories of using vape pens in the boss’ office.

Amy S., a stressed-out professional, says she exits her office building for 20-minute increments to use her vape pen, according to New York Post. She’s part of the growing number of professionals using marijuana vape while at work. The benefit for these professionals – the odor associated with marijuana doesn’t exist via vape.

Amy S. said, “I have a high-pressure job. I’m not embarrassed. I don’t think [smoking during the work day] should have a stigma. If I never told anyone, no one would know.

Bethany Gomez of the Brightfield Group said, “There are approximately 30-million adult cannabis users in the U.S., of which approximately 10-million vape. Approximately 35-percent consume cannabis daily. While we don’t have hard statistics on the number of people vaping at work, it stands to reason that there are millions of Americans [doing so] on a regular basis.”

Another professional, Jonathan, works in a financial services. He says that vape makes all the difference for using marijuana.

He said, “I’ve been smoking marijuana every day since I was 18.” He found, however, that traditional marijuana “didn’t mix well with productivity.”

Regarding vaping, Jonathan said, “There’s no lethargic feelings, no munchies, no red eyes. It’s a functional high. If I have a presentation or I’m nervous, I’ll take one hit. It helps me focus and calms me down.”

Jonathan says he’s never been too stoned to handle other people’s money.

Not all employers are tolerant though. One construction foreman, Tony, fired an employee on the spot for using a vape pen on the roof of a building.

Tony said, “He could be putting us all in jeopardy. You open yourself up to accidents. The whole job can be shut down. You have to be 100-percent alert at all times on this job. There are hazards – you’re up high, there’s heavy machinery, you can’t be impaired. It’s happening all over the city.”

Less than 25-grams of marijuana is decriminalized for both possession and use.

Employment lawyer Robert Ottinger said, “People don’t understand the difference between the decriminalization of marijuana and use at work. You can get fired for smoking at work. We didn’t get those calls five years ago, and now we get a few a month.”

New York is an at-will employment state. This means that you don’t have to be given a reason for termination. If a boss simply suspects that you’ve used marijuana at work and they’re not for marijuana, you’re likely to be fired.

For Amy S., she has a medical marijuana card for arthritis. City law bans smoking in almost all workplaces, so she goes outside. Even being a patient, she can still get fired for using medical marijuana at work or being stoned at work. Amy, however, is her own boss and her co-workers don’t seem to mind at all.

Steven, working in the Financial District, said, “I smoke it in my office throughout the day. My boss knows and my performance is well above par. It helps me relax and stay calm and makes me more spontaneous – and that’s good at work.”