A new study has found that over one-third of programmers in the U.S. use cannabis while they’re working. Researchers at the University of Michigan asked over 800 programmers about their cannabis habits. Programmers who said they do use cannabis while they work often claimed they felt it made them more creative while they were working.

“Cannabis is one of the most common mind-altering substances. It is used both medicinally and recreationally and is enmeshed in a complex and
changing legal landscape,” the study states. “Anecdotal evidence suggests that some software developers may use cannabis to aid some programming tasks. At the same time, anti-drug policies and tests remain common in many software engineering environments, sometimes leading to hiring shortages for certain jobs.”

The study goes on to say that not much was known about how prevalent cannabis use was among programmers. The researchers refer to this study as the “first large-scale survey of cannabis use by programmers.” They reported 35 percent of programmers have tried using cannabis during work hours and 18 percent use it regularly while they work.

“We find that cannabis use while programming occurs at similar rates for programming employees, managers, and students despite differences in cannabis perceptions and visibility. Our results have implications for programming job drug policies and motivate future research into cannabis use while programming,” the authors state.

Whether or not employers are drug testing in states that have legalized cannabis has been a prominent topic in recent years. Legalization advocates often argue that employees shouldn’t be punished for using cannabis when they’re not on the clock, but there’s been less discussion about if it’s appropriate to use cannabis while you’re working in certain jobs. This, of course, would not include jobs where you’re operating dangerous equipment or driving.

Violet Cavendish, communications manager for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Cannabis News Box that she definitely doesn’t think employers should decide against hiring people who use cannabis when they’re not working.

“Disqualifying potential employees for cannabis use is both outdated and bad for business. Adults should not be punished for responsibly using cannabis outside of the workplace,” Cavendish said. “It simply does not make sense for law-abiding citizens to be denied employment or risk losing their jobs over a substance that is safer than alcohol.”

Many industries have decided to stop drug testing in states that have legalized cannabis because they’ve found it hard to recruit new employees because the use of cannabis is so prevalent in their potential hiring.