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No new rules for MED officers and cannabis consumption

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The last two rounds of council and municipal service meetings were unable to attract a crowd - at least not behind the bench. Since July 24, regularly scheduled meetings have been unable to attain a quorum of councillors.

Municipal Enforcement Division officers won’t be bound by any new restrictions for off-duty cannabis use following legalization, according to the City of Yellowknife.

“MED has not issued any rules or regulations for its employees regarding the use of cannabis prior to reporting for work,” stated city spokesperson Iman Kassam in an email.

Instead, the same pre-legalization rules remain the status quo for MED officers -- and all city employees.

“The city deals with this issue in the same manner regarding the use of any substance which can cause impairment for all of its employees,” stated Kassam.

“That is to report in a condition suitable for performing the duties prescribed for your job in a safe and proper manner."

The city will “always look always look to reasonably accommodate any staff whose ability to perform the normal requirements of their job may be affected by a medical condition or its treatment.”

While policies remained unchanged for MED officers, the RCMP recently introduced new regulations for its members. Yellowknife Mounties, and their counterparts across the country, cannot consume cannabis with 28 days of reporting to work.

The force cites safety concerns and a lack of data on the drug's effect on performance as justification for the new regulations.