Marijuana legalization may cause workplace accidents

Shop insurance has reported that the recreational use of marijuana will be legalized in Canada no later than July. The company says while much of the debate has revolved around how the police will manage impaired drivers and how regulators will allow the sale of cannabis, there are also other "unintended consequences".

One British Columbia politician and a government official from Saskatchewan have warned of unexpected accidents all over Canada resulting from the use of marijuana. From oil and gas accidents to fires, smoking cannabis at work presents the potential for danger.

"I am worried about the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana on safety at work," B.C. Conservative Senator Richard Neufeld made this pronouncement during a recent debate.

It will not be illegal for a worker to smoke cannabis and then go to their job. Equally, Canadian authorities have frowned upon attempts to have in-work screening for drugs and alcohol. Adding to the situation is the fact that there is no approved test for testing the THC level in a blood system.

"Random drug testing is generally unacceptable in a safety-sensitive workplace because drug tests do not indicate actual, present impairment," the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission previously said in an earlier paper.

Like authorities for driving, the Saskatchewan department of labor relations suggests workplaces should work on guidelines for defining impairment and say clearly when medical marijuana use is allowed in the workplace.

Shop Insurance Canada is a subsidiary of RDA Insurance, a major Ontario based insurance provider with a stable of online outlets that includes Shop Insurance Canada family sites. The company has two goals, to give you the very best insurance policy possible and to help you save money when looking for coverage.

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