The family of Lorna McMurrey, a 27-year-old Massachusetts woman who died of an asthma attack at a cannabis production plant, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Trulieve Cannabis. The Florida-based corporation and other implicated parties are accused of not providing sufficient safety measures to protect employees from occupational hazards such as airborne cannabis dust and mold according to MassLive.
McMurrey began working at Trulieve’s Holyoke facility in the first half of 2022, specifically in the pre-roll joint production room. She suffered an asthma attack at work in November 2021 and was hospitalized, but despite this incident, the lawsuit alleges Trulieve took no protective measures. McMurrey returned to work a day later as reported by the Boston 25 News.
McMurrey's fatal asthma attack unfolded on January 4, 2022, leading to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and a brain injury, which resulted in her death three days later. After this event, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health characterized it as the first asthma-related workplace death in the American cannabis industry, reported on MassLive. Given the cannabis industry's rapid national growth, the work environment safety in these facilities is a significant concern.
Trulieve denies any wrongdoing, stating that the facility had appropriate air filtration systems in place, according to MassLive. In 2022, the company paid about $14,500 in a settlement to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration relating to McMurrey's death. However, the family's lawsuit claims that higher safety standards could have saved McMurrey's life, Boston 25 News reported.
The growing cannabis industry calls for increased attention to workplace health and safety practices. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently mentioned other cases of "non-fatal respiratory disease" among cannabis production employees in the state caused by exposure to airborne contaminants. The department urged healthcare providers to stay aware of work-related asthma among industry workers, MassLive reported. Robert Goldstein, Public Health Commissioner, acknowledged the health and safety risks for workers in the still-novel cannabis industry.
