Cannabis on campus

Cannabis impairment in the workplace is not a new issue for B.C. workplaces.  Employers and employees already have a shared duty to take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves and others.

Will legalization mean employees can use recreational cannabis in the workplace?  In a word – no.  The health and safety of employees, students, and community members must not be put at risk because of impairment. 

Employers are responsible to protect against workplace impairment by not allowing any person to enter or remain at work if they are physically or mentally impaired by alcohol, a drug or other substance.  This includes employees, contractors or any other person who is on campus and interacting with UVic personnel.

Adequate supervision is required to ensure reported or observed impairment is effectively managed.  In every case of workplace impairment, the most important responsibility is to ensure people are safe.

Employees must show up fit for duty and remain so during work.  Under WorkSafe legislation, employees are obligated to advise their employer if their ability to safely perform their work is impaired for any reason, and to not knowingly do work where their impairment may create an undue risk to themselves or anyone else.

All employees are expected to take reasonable precautions to avoid impairment while at work due to alcohol, drugs or other substances, including cannabis.

Medical cannabis has been available for over a decade and must be authorized by a doctor.  UVic will continue to accommodate employees following established procedures which, in part, requires an authorization from a doctor and is managed on a case-by-case basis.  More information about medical accommodations is available from Human Resources.

Employees, especially those involved in high-hazard work (such as driving, operating heavy machinery, or working with hazardous materials), have a general duty to advise their employer if they are taking medications with side-effects that include impairment. 

The B.C. Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) require employers and employees to protect the health and safety of all workers in the workplace.

Impairment by alcohol, drugs or other substances violates this basic requirement, as described in the OHSR, s. 4.19 and 4.20.

Smoking or vaping cannabis on campus will only be permitted in designated areas as noted in the amended Smoking Policy (AD2405).  These areas are intended for students who reside on campus and are of legal age (19 years or older).   

The designated cannabis smoking areas are shown on this map.