Workshop being offered on impact of legalized marijuana on workplaces
APEX is hosting an information session on Friday for employers curious about the impending legalization of recreational cannabis’ affect on the workplace.
Ed Secondiak, a former RCMP officer who currently works at ECS Safety Services, is scheduled to provide a presentation followed by a questionand-answer session.
“My role is to provide information so that employers can anticipate what they’re going to have to do,” said Secondiak. “A lot depends on the type of business — if people are working in safetysensitive positions or not.”
He said that Alberta is at an advantage compared to other provinces because of its robust workplace drug and alcohol testing regime.
“Nothing actually changes in the workplace as far as safetysensitive positions. Individuals still have to come to work fit for duty and they can’t have drugs or alcohol in their body above the established standards,” Secondiak said.
Although people with marijuana prescriptions are under no obligation to inform their employer, those working in safety-sensitive jobs should disclose their medicinal cannabis use.
“The employer would have a duty to accommodate, so they might have to put them in something that they can handle,” he said. “It’s more of a performance issue.”
If accommodation isn’t possible, the patient should ask their doctor if there is an alternative medication that doesn’t have marijuana’s side effects.
Employers must balance their obligation to provide a safe workplace for all employees with the reality of cannabis use, whether medicinal or recreational, Secondiak said.
“It can affect a lot of different professions, particularly if it’s abused,” he said.
Secondiak said he’s fairly satisfied with the Alberta government’s draft framework for recreational marijuana legalization, albeit with a caveat.
“The only concern I had was (that) in Alberta the intention is to let anyone smoke it where they can legally smoke tobacco,” he said, adding that this can contribute to the normalization of smoking pot, particularly amongst kids.
“I think they’re missing the mark in the fact that even with alcohol you can only consume it in your residence, a licensed establishment or there can be special permits for events,” he said.
Mark Kellar, director of advancement at Medicine Hat College, which is one of three organizations that compose APEX, said this is one of many events APEX hosts because it’s of interest to business people.
“This one is relevant simply because there does appear to be a change in the way that cannabis is available to Canadians, and it will be an important factor for employers and businesses to understand,” Kellar said.