Prov. wants feedback on pot at work, union says no need

By Glenn Hicks, paNow

The Government of Saskatchewan wants your opinion on how to best keep people safe in the workplace once recreational marijuana is legal on October 17, 2018.

A consultation paper lets people give their feedback and weigh in on whether there should be legislative changes.

Bob Bymoen, president of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union, said the government was right to reach out for input, though he figured protocols are already in place for workplace impairment.

“I don’t think there needs to be panic,” Bymoen told paNOW. “People just need to realize that on October 17th they and their co-workers need to be safe and sober.”

He said nobody should be impaired in the workplace, whether it’s by cannabis, alcohol, or prescription medication.

“If you’re required to take a drug that could put you or your colleagues at risk, you have an obligation to work that out with your doctor and probably to talk to your employer,” he said.

Bymoen likened the build-up to legalization and concerns about worker impairment to the Y2K jitters 18 years ago.

“The world had to do all that change to get ready for the year 2000, and then we looked back on things and realized there really was no panic. On October 17, just because marijuana is legal, doesn’t give someone the right to smoke it before they go to work,” Bymoen said.

Written submissions to the government consultation paper can be made until August 31.