Staff at the Municipality of Highlands East are preparing for changes coming once marijuana is legalized in Canada this summer.

CAO Shannon Hunter told council that a memo had been issued to staff regarding drug use in the workplace. That memo states that despite the changes to legislation, “employees are prohibited from consuming, possessing, selling or transferring cannabis (including any substances containing cannabis) in the workplace, which includes all of the municipality’s properties and vehicles.”

The municipality is also anticipating calls to the bylaw department by property owners about “smell and odour” from neighbours’ properties, or potentially  about people using marijuana in public places.

Provincial legislation is being amended which would dictate a setback of 20 metres from a public place for those smoking marijuana.

The memo informs staff of the impact of marijuana: “employees are expected to report to work free from the effects (including side effects) of alcohol and drugs (including cannabis). Cannabis’s side effects can last, depending on a variety of factors, including method of consumption, between three and 30 hours after consumption.”

Hunter said that the municipality would also need to accommodate those who use medical marijuana.

“Any employee suffering from a disability, including substance abuse, and/or uses medical cannabis, should disclose that fact to the municipality and seek assistance and/or accommodation (in confidence) from the municipality before any safety incident and/or performance issues arise. The municipality is committed to providing suitable accommodations, as required by law,” the memo states.

Councillor Cec Ryall asked whether Highlands East’s bylaw officer would be expected to enforce federal regulations around the number of plants someone was growing. The current legislation specifies each person can grow four.
“Those are questions that are still being discussed,” Hunter said. “I don’t know what to expect. No one knows what to expect and it’s going to be a work in progress.”