policies & procedures
On Sept. 8, 2017, Ontario became the first province to announce its plan to sell and distrib-ute
recreational marijuana once it becomes legalized. The federal government’s timeline is
to allow the sale and use of “recreational” marijuana by July 1, 2018, but each province
can regulate distribution and limit availability. Ontario’s plan is to have government-run
stores selling marijuana based on the province’s liquor distribution model, prohibiting private
sales and putting age restrictions in place, similar to those currently in place for alcohol.
Consumption of legal cannabis will be prohibited in public spaces and workplaces (simi-lar
to anti-smoking bylaws).
Ontario is considering a government-only distribution regime, similar to liquor
in the province, with certified producers supplying the product. It is not known
how the legalization of recreational marijua-na,
and the corresponding loss of stigma
or criminality attached to using the drug,
will impact general public consump-tion.
The distribution plan has also
not yet placed controls upon or
Andrei Verner / Shutterstock.com
Hiding in the Weeds
RISKS AND RESPONSES FOR EMPLOYERS IN THE
ERA OF LEGALIZED CANNABIS USE
By Michael F. Horvat
HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ OCTOBER 2017 ❚ 35
/HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA
/HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA
