Atlantic Chamber of Commerce ACCion News – October 2018
As of October 17, Canada’s approach to the sale and consumption of cannabis has undergone a transformational change — it is now a legally available substance. On the plus side, we can anticipate that fewer of our citizens will be imprisoned for possession and most, if not all, will opt to purchase cannabis from commercial outlets, thus reducing the black market.
While provincial and federal governments have actively been preparing for this day, the reality is there has been more emphasis on how to retail and profit from cannabis as a potential growth industry and incomplete consideration of the issues relating to detection, impairment and addiction. Witness the federal government’s recent declaration that employers will be responsible “to develop, implement and evaluate hazard prevention programs to monitor and prevent hazards” in the workplace without regulatory support from government.
Some argue legalization will not have a marked impact any different from the use of alcohol or prescription medication while working. Hopefully not, but since employers can potentially be held responsible for the actions of an impaired employee, it is essential all employers evaluate their impairment and addiction policies for themselves and those they employ. On a topic where issues of privacy versus workplace safety continue to be debated, there is no definitive resource for businesses. However, as a starting point, employers may find a guide and infographic prepared by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety useful in assessing what the potential impact of legalization is on their operations.
Issues surrounding legalization will not be resolved immediately. Beyond its potential effect on workplace safety and productivity, there remains the question of why government should be involved in the retail sale of restricted substances at all. ACC will monitor and advocate for government to provide effective regulation and avoid imposing non-competitive costs through taxes and building of government retail outlets.
