Police officers will be able to use marijuana off duty, but not within 24 hours of work.
Starting tomorrow, it will be legal for people 19 and older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational marijuana in Ontario. The Timmins Police Service has created a policy around the recreational use of cannabis for its members to prepare for legalization legislation. Communication Coordinator Marc Depatie says off-duty members will have to be sober within 24 hours of working to ensure they are fit for duty. “Different police forces have adopted a different stance. We feel that this policy is in place now, we will review it if there are any issues that arise from this allowance.”
Depatie says this policy is not promoting the use of recreational cannabis. “From a law enforcement perspective, it is important that we do not deviate from our messaging about the dangers of experimentation. We do not endorse or encourage this type of recreational use by our employees and the general public.”
Depatie says police are learning more about the science around cannabis on a daily basis. He says as the service learns more about how long the drug stays in your system, it can change the workplace policy.