❓ Dr. Walker questions the government on legislating to protect medicinal cannabis users in the workplace, referencing a study on its benefits and suggesting a Californian model for drug testing. The Minister responds that current WHS legislation places responsibility for drug and alcohol policies on individual businesses.
AnsweredQoN 1321Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MEDICAL CANNABIS
1321. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer the minister to the largest
study of its kind to date produced by the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine, which surveyed nearly 400 medicinal cannabis patients and concluded
that respondents achieved a significantly better level of physical functioning
after three months of treatment than those on other medications.
(1) What is
standing in the way of the state government legislating to ensure that
companies continue to employ and, indeed, encourage the employment of those on
medicinal cannabis?
(2) Might the
state, for example, follow the Californian model and legislate that urine and
hair sample testing is no longer appropriate for medicinal cannabis patients
within a work setting?
(3) If no to (2),
what impediments are there to such a legislative approach, or is it simply the
case that the government lacks the will or focus to deliver them?
1321. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer the minister to the largest
study of its kind to date produced by the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine, which surveyed nearly 400 medicinal cannabis patients and concluded
that respondents achieved a significantly better level of physical functioning
after three months of treatment than those on other medications.
(1) What is
standing in the way of the state government legislating to ensure that
companies continue to employ and, indeed, encourage the employment of those on
medicinal cannabis?
(2) Might the
state, for example, follow the Californian model and legislate that urine and
hair sample testing is no longer appropriate for medicinal cannabis patients
within a work setting?
(3) If no to (2),
what impediments are there to such a legislative approach, or is it simply the
case that the government lacks the will or focus to deliver them?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Industrial Relations, I provide the following response from the
Minister for Industrial Relations.
(1)–(3) Under Western Australia's work health and
safety legislation, a person conducting a business or undertaking is
responsible for determining their drug and alcohol policy based on the specific
hazards associated with their workplace.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Industrial Relations, I provide the following response from the
Minister for Industrial Relations.
(1)–(3) Under Western Australia's work health and
safety legislation, a person conducting a business or undertaking is
responsible for determining their drug and alcohol policy based on the specific
hazards associated with their workplace.
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