The cannabis forum of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) met last month to discuss the workplace implications of cannabis legalization. The forum speakers and participants raised some issues that all employers need to think about as they adjust to the new reality in the country.
The first issue related to the medical cover provided to employees. Employers were asked to think about how they would respond if employees filed claims for medical cannabis benefits. Does the law compel the employer to provide such cover, or it is left to employers to decide whether to provide those benefits?
The second concern had to do with preventing impaired employees from showing up at work. Questions were raised about how the right of the employees to consume recreational cannabis could be married to the need to prevent impairment at work.
There was a suggestion that employers can impose consumption guidelines similar to what other sensitive sectors, such as the airline industry, impose on employees. For example, pilots are instructed to refrain from taking alcohol within a certain number of hours before they are scheduled to fly a plane.
The employers were cautioned to avoid imposing a blanket ban on cannabis consumption since that would be illegal and expose them to liability issues. Only those employers who could prove that the job required total abstinence could take such action. For example, it would be reasonable to restrict security guards from consuming recreational cannabis on the job or some hours before their shift begins.
There was a call for scientific data on how long someone can be impaired after consuming cannabis. Such data would provide a basis upon which employers can draft cannabis policies for their employees.
The issue of impaired customers was also raised. It is one thing to provide guidelines for your employees and it is a totally different matter when it comes to impaired customers in retail outlets.
Members in attendance suggested that employees need to be given some training regarding how to handle customers who visit retail establishments while apparently impaired after consuming cannabis.
The possible fear of being stigmatized for consuming recreational marijuana also came up. A speaker at the forum predicted that some employees may falsely claim that they are medical cannabis users in order to explain away their impairment while at work.
Other members suggested that it would be reasonable for employers to ask employees for a copy of their documentation for medical cannabis to prevent such false claims. However, the employer should not ask for the diagnosis upon which the authorization card was issued since that would be overstepping the acceptable boundaries.
The forum ended with members agreeing that more sessions need to be organized so that people can continue to share experiences and ideas regarding the workplace implications of cannabis legalization. Such healthy and progressive discussions are music to the ears of cannabis companies like Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) and FinCanna Capital Corp. (CSE: CALI) (OTCQB: FNNZF) since such discussions differ from the polarized, adversarial pronouncements that are made in some jurisdictions.
More from CannabisNewsWire
About CannabisNewsWire
CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.
To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information please visit https://www.cannabisnewswire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.cannabisnewswire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
