MarijuanaintheWorkplace:LegalizationandMedicinalCannabis

SeatoSkyConference2017MatthewR.Letson

August9,2017

CANNABISACT– BillC-45

• Notyetpassed– Marijuanastillillegal

• Permitspossessionupto30gfor18yo+

• Ticketfor31g-50gwith$200fine

• Licensesvendorsandproducers

• Leavesmuchofimplementationtoprovinces

• NotawareofanyProvincethathasannouncedregulation

CANNABISACTDiscussionPaper

• Marijuana impairs a number of brain functions needed for safe driving such as coordination,judgement of distances, reaction time, and ability to pay attention. Marijuana is second to alcoholas the drug most frequently found among drivers involved in crashes and drivers charged withimpaired driving, and among seriously injured drivers. Marijuana and alcohol are also among themost frequently occurring alcohol-drug combinations.

• In contrast to alcohol, there is currently no roadside "breathalyzer"-type test to detectimpairment with marijuana. However, roadside oral fluid tests are being used in otherjurisdictions that can detect the presence of marijuana in oral fluid which can besuggestive of recent use. This is an active area of Canadian and international research.

Toward the Legalization, Regulation and Restriction of Access to Marijuana - DiscussionPaperhttp://healthycanadians.gc.ca/health-system-systeme-sante/consultations/legalization-marijuana-legalisation/public-safety-protection-securite-public-eng.php

CANNABISACT– TaskForce

June2016– FederalGov’tappointed9membertaskforce• TaskForceonCannabisLegalizationandRegulation• ChairAnneMcLellan(formerJusticeMinister)• FinalReportNovember2016

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/task-force-marijuana-groupe-etude/framework-cadre/index-eng.php• Approach:“apublichealthapproachtoreduceharmandpromotehealth”

• TaskForcedealtwithmarijuanause/impairmentintheworkplace• Specialconcernforsafety-sensitiveworkplaces• Notedlimitationsonrandomdrugtesting• Recognizedneedforaccommodationofdisabilities

• NothingincorporatedintoBillC-45

CANNABISACT– BillC-45

• WhatdoesitmeanforEmployers?

• Treatmuchlikealcoholfor30gorless

• 30gto50g– specialproblem

• limitationsontesting

• ImplicationsforHealthandSafety

• Impairmentvspresence

• Casefor‘marijuanaaddiction’andaccommodation

• Medicalmarijuanauseatwork

CANNABISACT– TaskForce

AdvicetoMinistersTheTaskForcerecommendsthatthefederalgovernment:• Facilitateandmonitorongoingresearchoncannabisandimpairment,consideringimplicationsforoccupationalhealthandsafetypolicies

• Workwithexistingfederal,provincialandterritorialbodiestobetterunderstandpotentialoccupationalhealthandsafetyissuesrelatedtocannabisimpairment

• Workwithprovinces,territories,employersandlabour representativestofacilitatethedevelopmentofworkplaceimpairmentpolicies

CANNABISACT– TaskForce

Problemswithmarijuanatesting• Cannabis-impaireddrivingandworkperformance;

• THCimpairsdrivingperformance,thelevelofTHCinbodilyfluidsdoesnotreliablyindicatethedegreeofimpairment;

• NoequivalenttoBloodAlcoholConcentration(BAC);

• Problemofchronic,heavyusersofcannabis;

• testingtools:oralfluidscreeningdevicesarethemostadvancedtoday(andhavetheaddedadvantageofsignalling recentuse);

CANNABISACT–EmploymentProblems

Problemswithmarijuanauseafterlegalization• Prohibitionofuse/impairmentatwork– testingproblems

• Policies

• Proxiesforimpairment

• Multiplemethodsofingestion– notlikefindingthevodkabottleinthetrunk;

• EmployeeswhotraveltotheUSforwork– maybebannedfromentryeveniflegalinCanada;

• Addictionandhumanrights

CanadianModel

• In 1999, Construction Owners Association of Alberta developed model policy• Updated 4 times since then (most recent 2014)

Available at: http://www.coaa.ab.ca/safety/CanadianModel.aspx

CanadianModel

CanadianModel

ProposedUSFederalGuidelines

MandatoryGuidelinesforFederalWorkplaceDrugTestingProgramsbytheU.S.SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration• Currentlyproposedamendmentsto1988guidelines• OraltestingstandardsameasCanadianStandardforMarijuana

• 4ng/mlinitial• 2ng/mlconfirmatory

CanadianModel

CanadianModel

Upheld in:• FluorConstructorsCanadaLtd.andI.B.E.W.,Loc.424(Chornyj)(Re),(2001)100LAC(4th)391• Clearwater Fabrication GP Inc. v. United Assn. of Journeymen and Apprentices of the

Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Local Union 488(Johnston Grievance), (2013) 234 L.A.C. (4th) 132

• Good Construction Industry standard• In unionized context, will be largely respected IF incorporated by Employers and Unions into

the Collective Agreement or otherwise agreed to by both• Must be applied reasonably• No cases dealing with non-union context• No reason to think it would not be considered applicable if incorporated by non-union

employers into the terms of employment• Random testing and other aspects MAY be at odds with the Human Rights Act

StatusofDrugTesting

Tolko Industries Ltd. v United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, AlliedIndustrial and Service Workers International Union, Local 1-425, 2017 CanLII 46450 (BC LA)

• E’ee operating heavy equipment involved in serious, preventable accident causing sig.damage – E’ee dismissed for cause

• E’ee testing positive for marijuana metabolites 241ng/ml in urine – over 200ng/ml aboveCanadian Model (not raised here)

• Union argued E’ers justification argument should be summarily dismissed as evidence ofmetabolites in urine does not demonstrate impairment

• Arbitrator dismissed Union’s argument, ordering full hearing with additional evidence• Not satisfied that presence of metabolites could not be used as corroborative evidence of

impairment in light of serious accident• Implication: Cannot safely rely on blood/saliva/urine testing alone

MedicalCannabis

• Calgary(City)vCUPE,Local37,2015CanLII 61756• In2009,Employeeprescribedmedicalmarijuanaforchronicdegenerativeneckproblem• Informed2supervisorsofprescription,andallowedtokeepworkinginsafetysensitivepositionusingheavyequipmentforoverayear

• ManagerlaterlearnedofprescriptionandEmployeewasremovedfromsafety-sensitivepositionpendinginvestigation

• E’er orderedanIMEthatshowedhecouldwork,butE’er perceivedtherewasalingering“drugdependence”issuethatwasunresolved

• E’er triedtohaveAlbertaTransportationremovetheE’ee’s Class3license• Tribunalfoundthatthe“drugdependence”issuewasartificiallycreatedbyE’er• E’er failedtoprovideanyevidenceofactualimpairmentonthejob• E’ee statedthatheconsumedonlyasmallamounteachnighttoeasepainatnight,andneverconsumedduringtheday

MedicalCannabis

• FrenchvSelkin Logging,2015BCHRT101• E’ee operatingheavingloggingequipmentwasterminatedbecauseherefusedtoceasesmokingmarijuanaonthejob

• E’ee hadpainfulcancerwhichhewasself-medicatingwithmarijuana(splitting6-8jointsperdaywithaco-worker)

• E’ee didNOThaveaprescriptionformedicalmarijuana,buthisoncologistwashelpinghimgetoneandwasawareofthedrugusetomanagepain

• E’er hadazero-tolerancepolicy,butallowedweekstogobybetweenfirstreportsofonthejobmarijuanauseandconfrontingE’ee

• Tribunalfoundthatterminationforuseofmarijuanatocontrolpain(whetherprescriptionornot)wasprimafacie discrimination

• PolicywasjustifiedandrequesttoallowE’ee tosmokemarijuanaatworkasunduehardship• Tribunalacknowledgedthat,intherightcase,anE’er mayhavetotoleratesomemedicalmarijuanaconsumptiononthejobasacomponentofaccommodation,solongasitwasnotimpairing

MedicalCannabis

• IBEW,Local1620vLowerChurchillTransmissionConstructionEmp’s Assn.Inc.,[2016]N.L.L.A.A.No.5• E’ee workedbuildingtransmissionlinesforalargehydro-electricproject• E’ee residedatworkcampfor21daysatatime• E’ee hadavalidprescriptionformedicalmarijuanaandpurchasedhissupplylegally– usedforbackpainandaxiety

• E’ee didnotdiscloseprescriptionatthetimeofhiring(afraidhe’dnotbehired),andtookstepstohidhismarijuanasupplyoutsideoftheworkcampastherewasazero-tolerancepolicy

MedicalCannabis

• IBEW,Local1620vLowerChurchillTransmissionConstructionEmp’s Assn.Inc.,[2016]N.L.L.A.A.No.5• NoevidenceE’ee everimpairedatwork• E’ee dismissedasaresultofhisfailuretodisclosehisprescriptionandhistakingactivestepstoconceal• GrievanceDeniedduetoE’ee deceptionandpossessionatworksiteinviolationofzerotolerancepolicy

Causefordisciplineupheld,butpenaltyreferredbacktoarbitrator: IBEW,LocalUnion1620v.LowerChurchillTransmissionConstructionEmployers'AssociationInc.andValard ConstructionLP,2016CanLII 84114(NLTD)

Questions:• WhatifE’ee hadbeenupfrontaboutuse– couldE’er haverefusedhimthepositiongivenhisprescription?

UnitedSteelWorkersLocal7656vMosaicPotashColonsay ULC(Danyluk Grievance),[2016]S.L.A.A.No.4

• CouldE’er maintainzero-tolerancepolicyforpossessionatworkcampifhehaddisclosedhisprescription?

MedicalCannabis

MedicalMarijuana– CanadianModel

• Musthaveaprescription

• Regardless– musthavenoimpairingeffectonE’ee

• Notificationofside-effects

• Stigmaof‘smokingup’atwork• Doess.3.2workforsmokedmedicalcannabis?

RandomTesting

Significantdifferencebetweenunionizedandnon-unionizedworkplaces

Unionizedworkplace• Extraordinarycircumstances

• historyofdrugabuseinworkplace• safetysensitiveworkplace

• Post-incidenttestingmorejustifiable

Non-unionizedworkplace• Noexplicitrestrictiononrandom/post-incidenttesting• Mainconsiderationinhumanrights(addictionandmedicalmarijuana)

HumanRights• Mosttestingisprimafacie discriminatory

HumanRights

• Prohibitdiscriminationforphysicalandmentaldisability

• Addictionisconsideredaphysicaland/ormentaldisability

• MedicalCannabisusersalsoprotected

• Addiction/MedicalCannabisusecannotbeafactorindiscipline/dismissalatallunless itisjustifiedasabonafideoccupationalrequirement

• Employersmustaccommodatetothepointofunduehardship

• SomeFactors:• Safetysensitiveposition• Evidenceofimpairmentatwork• Natureofemployer’sworkplace• Economiccostofaccommodation(ie:costoftreatmentprograms,etc.)

HumanRights

• Brooksv.Martin-BrowerofCanadaCo.,[2008]BCHRTDNo.49• Employeecaughtsmokingmarijuana

• Employeeadmittedaddiction,andreferredbyemployerforcounselling

• Signedanagreementthathewouldabstainfromdruguseandattendoutpatienttreatment

• Employeelaterrefusedtosignupforexpensiveoutpatientprogramandrefusedalternativeproposedbyemployer

• HRComplaintdismissedashefailedtocomplywithaccommodation

HumanRights

• StewartvElkValleyCoalCorporation,2017SCC30– IMPORTANTNEWDECISION

• E’er policyrequiredemployeetocomeforwardwithoutconsequenceifsufferingdrug-addictionandE’er wouldprovidetreatmentifreportedbeforeanyincident

• Policyprovidednearautomaticterminationifincidentoccursandnopriorselfreporting

• Post-accident,E’ee wholateradmittedtocrack-cocaineuseoff-duty,wasterminatedbecausehedidnotcomeforward

• AlbertaHumanRightsCommissiondismissedcomplaintbecauseE’ee inviolationofmandatorydisclosurepolicy

• E’ee testifiedthathedidnotperceivehehadanaddictionuntilafteraccident– BUTSCCruledthatwasirrelevant

THANKYOU!!