Emond Harnden on Flying High
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Do you want to know more about the aviation industry and cannabis?
With Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, and Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, currently before the Senate for approval, concerns are rising about the potential impact of legal recreational cannabis on the Canadian workplace. For employers in the aviation industry, the safety-sensitive nature of the workplace, coupled with recent incidents involving intoxicated crew members, is driving the need to respond before recreational cannabis becomes a real concern.
Many employers may believe that they will be able to treat recreational cannabis in the same way that alcohol is currently treated under existing drug and alcohol policies. While this is true to a certain extent, the fact that cannabis is recognized as having some legitimate medicinal properties, as well as the limits of current testing devices, puts recreational cannabis into its own category, distinct from both alcohol and medical cannabis.
This White Paper presents information and recommendations for aviation industry employers, including:
signs of impairment to watch for;
employers’ obligations with respect to accommodation and safety;
information about the current state of the law; and
dealing with potential substance use or abuse problems through workplace policies.
