3 reasons why security professionals must be educated about cannabis laws, regulations and workplace policies

Police officers and security professionals play an important role in any community. It’s their responsibility and duty to protect the public and serve the law. When it comes to cannabis consumption and possession, there is still a stigma that exists - something we at RCU - Responsible Cannabis Use are actively trying to reduce through education.

Recreational cannabis was legalized in Canada in October 2018, but many people are still unaware of the laws. Here are three reasons why security professionals must be educated about cannabis laws, regulations and workplace policies.

1. Cannabis laws vary by country, province, and municipality

You may be aware that federal and provincial laws vary but did you know that each municipality has the ability to designate their own rules - confusing, right? There is no cookie cutter answer for age of consumption, possession limits, or where an individual is able to consume cannabis in public. It is the responsibility of police officers and security professionals to educate themselves on the dos and don’ts to effectively do their job without bias.

We created canniknow.com to put all regional cannabis laws in one place - think of it like the TripAdvisor for cannabis.

African Americans are arrested for violating cannabis possession laws at nearly four times the rates of whites, yet both ethnicities consume marijuana at roughly the same rates. - NORML

2. Reduce stigma and profiling

According to Cannabis Amnesty, in the past 15 years, Canadian police agencies reported more than 800,000 cannabis possession “incidents” to Statistics Canada. In a country that now legalizes cannabis for recreational and medicinal use, it’s important that individuals in power break down past beliefs and welcome this new normal. This is all possible through education and conversation.

An estimated 500,000 Canadians currently have a criminal record for cannabis possession. - Cannabis Amnesty

3. Set expectations and promote a safe work environment

Cannabis education in the workplace is imperative for all industries, put most importantly, the people who serve and protect. Implementing a workplace policy that includes cannabis education will benefit employees and the community as a whole.

RCU has developed CannEd, a cannabis e-learning course that helps employers and employees address cannabis at work based on regional laws and industry regulations.

RCU has partnered with CPKN and PSKN to make cannabis education accessible to Canadian Police and Professional Security Officers. Members will receive a 25% discount ($35) for CannEd.

Contact us at hello@thercu.org to learn how your organization can implement cannabis education in the workplace.