The National Post reports in its Thursday, Oct. 17, edition that as safety experts worry that cannabis edibles will summon a new wave of users, the federal government has no requirement for commercial drivers to be subjected to drug testing while working.
The Post's Bobby Hristova writes that cannabis edibles, extracts, topicals and vaping products become legal on Oct. 17. The new products can deliver a different high that takes longer to kick in, which could leave drivers unexpectedly impaired.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance is calling for Ottawa to step in and mandate drug testing for commercial drivers.
Canada had 1.1 million commercial drivers working in 2018.
The alliance's director of policy and public affairs Jonathan Blackham says, "This is all about safety, we feel very strongly that operating a commercial vehicle on roadways comes with added responsibility."
Jordan Crosby, an issues manager with the Ministry of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, wrote in an email when asked about the lack of drug-testing laws, "Federally regulated employers do not tolerate impairment on the job, and that has not changed since cannabis was legalized. Employees have a duty to work safely."
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