Marijuana in the Workplace
WHAT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW
Once recreational marijuana becomes legal this fall,
a major increase in marijuana consumption is
expected. According to a study conducted by Deloitte
(Recreational Marijuana Insights and Opportunities,
2016), 22 per cent of Canadian adults currently consume rec-reational
marijuana, at least on an occasional basis, and another
17 per cent would consider trying it after it is legalized. That’s
almost 40 per cent of the Canadian population! It’s not surpris-ing
then that employers are concerned about how legalization
will affect the workplace.
To date, the government has not specified any details about
impairment guidelines; unlike alcohol consumption in the work-place,
there is no effective way for employers to measure impairment
on the job. It’s still unclear how an employer may legally determine
if an employee has come to work under the influence of marijuana,
and what course of action to take. There is an even bigger concern
with employees who operate in safety-sensitive roles such as oper-ators
of heavy machinery or workers on a construction site.
The use of medical marijuana has also risen the last few years
and Health Canada expects the number of Canadians registered to
By Aviva B. Abraham
polices & procedures
artlana / 123RF Stock Photo
HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ AUGUST 2018 ❚ 29
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