Photo Source: Alesia Kozik
The NZ Drug Foundation’s newly launched guide to medicinal cannabis use in the workplace remains highly relevant for workplaces in Aotearoa.
The report, published in February 2024, entitled Medicinal Cannabis: A Guide for Employers and Employees, continues to support New Zealand businesses in managing safety and compliance as regulations evolve.
The guide was created in collaboration with CHASNZ, law firm Dentons, Māori and Pasifika Trades Training, and other industry experts.
Addressing a Growing Workplace Challenge
The integration of medicinal cannabis into New Zealand’s workplace policies remains a challenge for many employers, particularly in safety-sensitive sectors. The lack of clear guidelines has left employees who use medicinal cannabis for medical reasons feeling uncertain and fearful of disclosure.
Sarah Helm, Executive Director of the NZ Drug Foundation, explains,
“New Zealand’s prescription medicinal cannabis scheme is less than five years old, and it’s clear that many employers are still trying to work out how medicinal cannabis fits into their workplace policies, especially when it comes to safety-sensitive roles.” She adds,
“At the same time, many employees are wary of disclosing a medicinal cannabis prescription for fear of additional scrutiny or even dismissal.”
Key Features of the Guide
The guide provides a comprehensive overview of medicinal cannabis and its workplace implications. It:
- Clarifies the legal rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees.
- Differentiates between psychoactive and non-psychoactive prescriptions.
- Offers practical recommendations for updating workplace policies.
- Focuses on impairment assessment rather than merely detecting the presence of cannabis in drug tests.
Chris Alderson, Chief Executive of CHASNZ, emphasises the need for a rational and practical approach,
“For higher risk work, there is a need to ensure that employers and employees have a consistent approach to recognising impairment, for any reason, and responding in a rational, practical way.”
Shifting the Focus to Impairment Detection
Traditional drug testing policies, which focus on detecting drug presence, are being challenged by a new approach that aims to assess impairment in real time.
The NZ Drug Foundation and CHASNZ advocate for this shift, with Alderson emphasising broader safety issues,
“Medicines, alcohol and other drugs, fatigue, injuries, and stress can all impact workplace safety. We think the best practice in New Zealand safety-sensitive workplaces will be in detecting impairment regardless of the cause.”
New tools, such as mobile apps, are emerging as part of this strategy. “These technologies show promise and can work in tandem with drug testing where needed,” Alderson adds.
Ensuring Fairness and Reducing Stigma
Employees often hesitate to disclose their use of medicinal cannabis due to fears of jeopardising their job security. The guide calls for businesses to implement evidence-based, fair policies to ensure that medicinal cannabis users are not unfairly penalised.
Alderson states, “The intention of this guide is to provide a basis for businesses to confidently address the legal presence of medicinal cannabis without stigmatisation or increasing the risk of harm occurring.”
What’s Next for Workplace Policies?
Experts stress the importance of collaboration as businesses refine their workplace policies. The guide, available on the NZ Drug Foundation website, remains a valuable resource for companies updating their approaches.
Originally launched during a CHASNZ webinar, it continues to play a key role in workplace safety discussions in 2025. Experts recommend further industry engagement to refine impairment assessments and ensure policies stay in step with evolving legal and medical developments.