Workplace rules on medical marijuana in federal agencies not consistent, survey finds

A survey of federal agencies and departments with a connection to public safety has found no consistent policies regarding employees who use medical marijuana.Gauloises Blondes Blue
The issue made national headlines last month when a Mountie in New Brunswick publicly complained about not being able to smoke medical marijuana while in uniform. The force subsequently stripped Cpl. Ron Francis, who says he uses medical marijuana to help him with post-traumatic stress disorder, of his red serge.
Postmedia News queried several federal agencies about their awareness of employees who use medical marijuana and any restrictions that may be placed on employees who make such disclosures. Here’s what they said:
RCMP
Spokeswoman Sgt. Julie Gagnon said the force is aware of “less than five” Mounties who use medical marijuana. She was unable to be more precise.
Current policy requires RCMP members to report any medical condition that may be hazardous to their health and safety or to the public, she said.
While RCMP doctors do not authorize medical marijuana use, members can get authorization from their family doctors.
Members who use a “mind-altering drug” — Gagnon cited marijuana, OxyContin and Dilaudid as examples — are not permitted to perform operational duties and barred from carrying a firearm or driving a police vehicle.
Appearing before the House of Commons public safety committee in early December, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson described the episode in New Brunswick as “awkward and disappointing,” but also acknowledged that “it did raise some issues with respect to managing members or employees of organizations … who are prescribed medical marijuana.”
Paulson said Francis was “fully off duty” and that the force was “working with him to try to help him get better.”
A few days later, police arrested Francis and charged him with assaulting another police officer.
Transport Canada
Pilots and air traffic controllers are obligated to report the use of any medication as part of obtaining their medical certificates and failure to do so could result in licences being suspended, said spokeswoman Karine Martel.
Once they obtain their medical certificates, pilots and air traffic controllers are assessed by civil aviation medical examiners on a regular basis, added spokeswoman Roxane Marchand. For example, commercial pilots over 40 must undergo a medical every six months.
Neither pilots nor air traffic controllers would be allowed to perform their jobs if using medical marijuana, officials said.
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
CATSA is the Crown corporation responsible for screening airline passengers and their baggage. Officials are not aware of any screeners who use medical marijuana, spokesman Mathieu Larocque said.
However, CATSA and the contractors who directly employ screening officers do not require employees to disclose use of medical marijuana.
“We do not ask for this information,” Larocque said.
That said, “our training programs and oversight mechanisms ensure that screening officers have the capacities and abilities to perform their duties,” he said.
Canada Border Services Agency
Citing privacy reasons, spokesman Graham Maja said the agency “cannot provide specific information on the potential use of medical marijuana by officers.”
Border officers are required to report anything that may negatively impact their health and safety, or that of the public, Maja said. “Any border services officer taking medication that can negatively affect judgment, including marijuana, is not permitted to perform operational duties, including carrying a firearm.”