3 minute read
Managing marijuana use in the workplace
By Kelsey Saunders
As legalization of marijuana is just around the corner, and medical cannabis is becoming more prevalent in Canada, employers are left with a series of unanswered questions revolving around the workplace. This leads us to the question, “what do employers need to know about managing cannabis in the workplace?”
When will marijuana legalization take effect? Marijuana is expected to be legalized by July 2018.
Once legalized, can employers continue to test for marijuana use? Yes. Marijuana use still carries significant risks to safety at work, and we therefore encourage employers to continue to test for cannabis use, even after legalization is implemented.
How will marijuana impairment be detected? Currently, the saliva swab is the most time-sensitive test at an employer’s disposal.
The saliva swab test has the ability to detect marijuana consumption within 12 hours of the drug test. Unfortunately, the saliva swab does not test if an individual is actively impaired, which is one of the biggest concerns for not only employers, but law enforcement as well.
The psychoactive chemical in marijuana, THC, metabolizes through an individual’s body differently than alcohol, which means the current roadside impairment tests offer no assistance to agencies actively researching for an active impairment solution.
The federal government is investing a significant amount of resources in this initiative in order to find a solution prior to the legalization in July 2018.
Can marijuana be treated the same way as alcohol in the workplace? To a certain extent, yes it can.
Alcohol is a legal substance that poses significant safety risks in the workplace and has been carefully managed by employers over the past several years. Employers should have detailed policies governing the use of alcohol. Prohibiting impairment, use, and possession of the substance at the workplace, and outlining specific consequences for violation of those terms, as an example.
It is important to note that cannabis and alcohol are two different substances and are metabolized differently in the body, with different effects on cognition and behaviour, and carry distinctive safety risks and health concerns. An employer must take these differences into account when drafting drug and alcohol policies.
How should employers prepare for this legislative change? Employers should revisit their existing drug and alcohol policies and update them appropriately. It is important that all policy revisions are properly communicated to employees to ensure thorough understanding. All supervisors, team leads, and managers are to be properly trained to detect signs of impairment.
Companies should seek legal support when identifying and launching policy changes.
The legalization of marijuana will not place unnecessary stress on the employer if their policies and procedures are created proactively, and staff have been advised and trained in the new protocols prior to the implementation of Canada’s new law in July 2018. • Kelsey Saunders is the result department team lead at SureHire.
This article was previously published in the summer 2017 edition of Breaking Ground, the official publication of the Edmonton Construction Association.
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Arctic Snow & Ice Control Inc.................................................................................. 12, 13
Del Equipment Ltd.........................................................................................................IFC
MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co. Ltd................................................................ 18
NSC Minerals...............................................................................................................OBC
SUITE 300, 6 ROSLYN ROAD, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA www.delcommunications.com
The key to publishing success.
We offer outstanding personal service and quality in the areas of: • Creative Design • Advertising Sales • Trade Publications • Video Production & Editing • Qualified Sales & Editorial Team
THE ULTIMATE BUSINESS PARTNER
You couldn’t ask for a better business partner than the John Deere 4R Series Tractor. When snow threatens to keep businesses closed, the 4R makes sure to keep you and the communities you service up and running. Dependable. Proven. And ready to be your number one earner. That’s the legacy a good business partner leaves behind. Visit your dealer to learn more about the John Deere 4R.
