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ARTICLE · 24 JULY 2017

Up In Smoke: An Update On Marijuana In The Workplace

Siskinds LLP
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We are often asked to comment on what effect the proposed legalization of marijuana is likely to have on workplaces.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Christopher Sinal
Christopher Sinal
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We are often asked to comment on what effect the proposed legalization of marijuana is likely to have on workplaces. As I noted last year, many employers already have experience with marijuana-related workplace issues, given that the drug has been used for medical purposes for some time. However, the legalization and resulting-wide spread availability of marijuana will almost certainly create more opportunities for it to enter into the workplace.

Is It Legal Yet?

No.

On April 13, 2017, the federal government introduced legislation, the "Cannabis Act" (a.k.a. Bill C-45), to legalize the use and sale of marijuana. As of the writing of this article, however, the Cannabis Act has only passed second reading and is not yet enacted into law.

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