Skip to content

Canadian employers facing marijuana challenges in the workplace

Brian Johnston, QC

Canadian employers are already coping with approximately 75,000 Canadians authorized to use medical marijuana. Health Canada expects that this number will increase to about 450,000 by 2024.

Employers know that medical marijuana is a psychoactive drug prescribed to deal with medical conditions and accordingly, since many of those medical conditions constitute a disability (which employers are bound to accommodate to the point of undue hardship) medical marijuana typically necessitates an assessment and accommodative approach.

The next challenge facing Canadian employers will come with the federal government’s promise to introduce legislation in the spring of 2017 to legalize marijuana. The Task Force led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan has circulated a discussion paper entitled “Towards the Legalization, Regulation and Restriction of Access to Marijuana”.

In the recent US election, the State of California opted for legalizing marijuana. This puts America on the road to allowing 1 in 5 Americans to legally use marijuana.

Employers will have to be mindful of the consequences of legalization of marijuana. Detecting marijuana usage and impairment is a lot more complicated than detecting alcohol use or drunkenness. Canadian employers will want to learn more about the topic and engage with lawmakers.

SHARE

Archive

Search Archive


 
 

The Winds of Change (Part 5): Atlantic Canada poised to benefit from clean energy tax credits

November 10, 2022

By Jim Cruikshank, Graham Haynes, and Dave Randell On November 3, 2022, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland delivered the Federal Government’s Fall Economic Statement (“FES”).  The FES included a number of tax related announcements, including further…

Read More

“Constructive Taking”: Consequences for municipalities from the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Annapolis Group Inc. v. Halifax Regional Municipality

November 10, 2022

By Stephen Penney, Joe Thorne, and Giles Ayers A new decision from the Supreme Court of Canada, Annapolis Group Inc. v. Halifax Regional Municipality, 2022 SCC 36 (“Annapolis”), has changed the law of constructive expropriation across the…

Read More

Attract & Retain: Nova Scotia taps foreign healthcare workers to fill labour shortages

November 10, 2022

As part our presenting sponsorship of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Fall Dinner, we are pleased to present a series of thought leadership articles highlighting the dinner’s themes of immigration, recruitment, and labour market…

Read More

The rise of remote work and Canadian immigration considerations

November 3, 2022

As part our presenting sponsorship of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Fall Dinner, we are pleased to present a series of thought leadership articles highlighting the dinner’s themes of immigration, recruitment, and labour market…

Read More

The future of express entry: Targeted draws to meet Canada’s economic needs

November 2, 2022

By Sara Espinal Henao Since its initial launch in January 2015, Express Entry has been a pillar of Canada’s immigration system. Recently passed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) promise to drive…

Read More

Filling labour gaps with foreign workers: What Canadian employers need to know

October 28, 2022

By Brittany Trafford It is no secret that employers in Atlantic Canada are struggling to fill labour gaps. In June 2019 the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) published a report[1] indicating that the overall labour…

Read More

Updated employer compliance requirements for employers of foreign workers

October 26, 2022

This article was updated on May 4, 2023. By Brendan Sheridan The Government of Canada has recently taken steps to further protect foreign workers employed in Canada. These efforts by the government have, in some…

Read More

Nova Scotia setting legislative framework for green hydrogen

October 24, 2022

Sadira Jan, Dave Randell, and James Gamblin On October 17, 2022, the Government of Nova Scotia tabled bills that would amend four pieces of legislation in support of future green hydrogen development. The intended impacts…

Read More

Newfoundland and Labrador Introduces Pay Equity & Transparency Law

October 20, 2022

By Ruth Trask  and Josh Merrigan Pay equity is an increasing focus for governments and advocates in the employment world, which means that employers must also pay attention. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has…

Read More

Upcoming changes for international students in Canada

October 12, 2022

By Kathleen Leighton Canada is facing considerable labour shortages resulting from a myriad of factors including its aging population and declining birth rates. As a result, our immigration strategy going forward must help drive the…

Read More

Search Archive


Scroll To Top