Daryl Cukierman, partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, discusses weed legalization in Canada and how it will affect workplaces. He discusses how employers should be clear with employees on all expectations going forward, in addition to updating current drug and alcohol policies, ensuring theyre both up to date and clear in their terms, or even craft entirely new policies. Overall, he says, the general theme is to be clear on employer expectations around the relationship between cannabis use and the workplace. Make sure all loop holes in such policies are closed as soon as possible, he says. Come October marijuana wont be classified as illegal. Think about how youll need to alter your language in existing employee policies. Theres a risk that any confusing language could be interpreted wrongly by employees, allowing for transgressions down the road.
