Workers Compensation Board wants businesses to develop policy for use of pot

Secondiak says employers should come up with those policies soon because medical marijuana is already out there and workers’ use could affect safety on the job. (Photo: Chuck Grimmett/ Flickr)

SASKATOON –A spokesman for a Saskatchewan agency that provides insurance and compensation for workers and employers says businesses should have policies in place before Canada legalizes marijuana.

Ed Secondiak with ECS Safety Services spoke Tuesday at a meeting of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.

He says businesses should develop ways to test workers for marijuana; penalties for employees who use marijuana at or before work, or perhaps consider allowing the drug at work.

Secondiak says employers should come up with those policies soon because medical marijuana is already out there and workers’ use could affect safety on the job.

He says medical marijuana can cause people to be impaired as well.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month that his government plans to introduce marijuana legislation by the summer, but added current laws haven’t changed.

“We don’t have a level of impairment for law enforcement to follow and we lack a lot of research on the actual benefits, what is should be used for,” Secondiak said.

“Right now it’s been used as a miracle drug for everything and the science might not be there, so we know it’s beneficial, but what is it beneficial for?”