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even though medical cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2001 (with prescriptions on the rise ) and
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                     legal recreational use is looming. Organizations are divided in their approach: some employers are taking
                     a “wait and see” attitude, while others are seizing the moment and introducing new policies. But are new
                     policies enough?
                     Workforce demographics may be a factor in determining how proactive an organization should be in
               ffective  October    17,    2018  a  “wait  and see” attitude, while  others   use of cannabis may lead to on-the-job
                     addressing cannabis in the workplace. Morneau Shepell’s Mental Health Priorities 2017 research asked
            ECanadians  are  able  to use cannabis   are seizing the moment and introducing   issues,  it  is  prudent  for  employers  to
                     employees about both current cannabis use and whether that use was expected to increase with
            recreationally  without fear  of  criminal   new  policies.  But  are  new  policies   develop a strategic plan for dealing with
            sanctions.  While the federal  Cannabis   enou                            issues  now, rather than reacting  on an
                     legalization. Age and gender were found to have an impact on cannabis use.
            Act, C-45, 2018 addresses usage in many   Workforce  demographics  may be  a   ad-hoc basis when a situation arises.
            public  places,  the  question  of  how  to   factor  in  determining  how proactive  an   The  legalization  of  cannabis:  impact
                     Cannabis usage in the last year
            handle cannabis  in  the workplace rests   organization  should  be  in  addressing   for  the  workplace  report  discusses
            largely with individual employers.   cannabis  in  the  workplace.  Morneau    orneau   e e   s researc   nd n s and
                     That doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that employers should do nothing, even if they have workforce
               The  question  is  what,  if  anything,   Shepell’s  Mental Health Priorities  2017   makes recommendations for a strategic
                     demographics with a lower likelihood of cannabis use. Given the odds that increased medical and
            should  organizations  be  doing  to   research  asked employees  about  both   approach  to dealing  with employee
             re are  or t e  e a   at on o  canna  s    current cannabis  use  and  whether that   use  of  cannabis  in  a  way  that  ensures
                     recreational use of cannabis may lead to on-the-job issues, it is prudent for employers to develop a
            Responses  to Morneau Shepell’s  2019   use  was  expected to increase  with   everyone’s  safety  without infringing  on
                     strategic plan for dealing with issues now, rather than reacting on an ad-hoc basis when a situation arises.
            Trends  in  Human  Resources  survey,   legalization. Age and gender were found   individual liberties.
            conducted  in  July  2018,  indicate that   to have an impact on cannabis use.
                     The legalization of cannabis: impact for the workplace report discusses Morneau Shepell’s research findings
            a  minority  have  implemented  policies                                  Employers’ current actions
                     and makes recommendations for a strategic approach to dealing with employee use of cannabis in a way
            to address  the  use  of  cannabis  in   CANNABIS USAGE IN THE LAST YEAR    When  asked  what  actions  they  had
                     that ensures everyone’s safety without infringing on individual liberties.
            the  workplace;  even  though  medical   That  doesn’t  necessarily  mean,  taken in preparation for the legalization
            cannabis has been legal in Canada since   however,  that  employers  should  do   of  cannabis,  employers  responding  to
                  (  t    rescr  t ons  on  t e  r se)   nothing,  even  if  they  have  workforce   the  Trends  in  Human  Resources  survey
                     Employers’ current actions
            and  legal  recreational  use  is  looming.   demographics  with  a  lower  likelihood   provided this input:
            Organizations  are  divided in  their   of  cannabis  use.  Given  the  odds  that
                     When asked what actions they had taken in preparation for the legalization of cannabis, employers
            approach  with  some  employers  taking   increased  medical  and  recreational
                     responding to the Trends in Human Resources survey provided this input:
                                                                   Currently    Planned for the
                                                                    in place   next 12-18 months  Not planned
                                     next year to year-and-a-half. The other action that employers are planning to take in the upcoming 12
                      Update substance abuse policy to manage cannabis
                      in the workplace                               34%            52%              13%
                      Update employee drug testing protocols          11%           19%              71%
                                     pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the organization.
                      Train managers to manage cannabis in the workplace  7%        48%             45%
                                     It is perhaps surprising that, even though medical cannabis has been legal in Canada for almost two
                      Cover medical cannabis under our drug benefits plan  3%         9%             88%
                                     decades, only three per cent of organizations currently cover it under their drug benefits plan and only
                      Cover medical cannabis under a health spending
                                     another eight per cent plan to consider doing so in the next 12 to 18 months.
                      account (HSA)                                   8%             7%             85%
                     Only one-third (34 per cent) of respondent organizations have already updated their substance abuse
                                     Prevalence of cannabis use
                     policies to manage cannabis in the workplace, although another 52 per cent are planning to do so in the
                n     one-t  rd   (      ercent)   o    Prevalence of cannabis use    a  large  surge  in  cannabis  usage  with
                                     Feedback from employees gathered in the Mental Health Priorities 2017
            respondent  organizations  have  already   Feedback  from  employees  gathered  in   legalization.
                                     should not expect a large surge in cannabis usage with legalization.
            updated  their  substance  abuse  policies   the  Mental  Health  Priorities  2017  research   The  research  shows  that  employees
                     The legalization of cannabis: impact for the workplace  | October 2018
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            to  manage  cannabis  in  the  workplace,   suggests that employers should not expect   in  British  Columbia  are  most  likely  to  use
                                     Employees were asked whether they had used cannabis in the last year. Those responses were then
            although another 52 percent are planning
                                     broken out by region:
            to  do  so  in  the  next  year  to  year-and-a-
            half.  The  other  action  that  employers
            are planning to take in the upcoming 12                Prevalence of Cannabis usage in the last year
            to  18  months  (only  seven  percent  have   20  19%
            done  so  a read )   s  to  tra n   ana ers
            to  handle  cannabis  in  the  workplace.
            Doing  so  is  particularly  important,  given   15   15%
            that impairment of employees in the                            13%      13%      12%                13%
             or   ace  can   ose  a  s  n  cant  r s   to
            the health and safety of the organization.  10                                            9%
               It  is  perhaps  surprising  that,  even
            though medical cannabis has been legal in
            Canada for almost two decades, only three   5
            percent of  organizations  currently  cover
             t under t e r dru   ene ts   an and on
            another  eight  percent  plan  to  consider   0
                                                                                  Manitoba,
                                                        British
            doing so in the next 12 to 18 months.      Columbia  NFL, NB,  Ontario  Saskatchewan  Alberta  Quebec  Canada
                                                                 NS, PEI
            www.lbmao.on.ca          The research shows that employees in British Columbia are most likely to use cannabis, while those in
                                                                             LBMAO Reporter - November-December 2018  23
                                     Quebec are least likely to do so.
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