Open in full screen mode Now the RCMP simply requires that its officers be sober when they take duty. The Canadian Press The RCMP has relaxed its policy on consumption of cannabis by its agents. It simply requires that they be sober when they take duty. This policy replaces one put in place in 2018, which prohibited front-line officers and several other employees in security-critical positions from consume cannabis products during the four weeks preceding the return to their post. This modification, which came into effective January 10, allows the RCMP to adopt a policy similar to that of many police forces across the country. The National Police Federation (NPF), which represents nearly 20,000 RCMP members, welcomed the decision. She maintains that the previous policy did not fit with what already existed in other police forces. The president of union, Brian Sauvé, noted that NPF committees have been recommending a new review of the policy since 2020. The RCMP acknowledged last summer that the 2018 policy was under review, but no final decision had been made at the time. Loading ELSEWHERE IN NEWS: Grammy Awards <strong>: </strong>Celine Dion makes a surprise appearance and Taylor Swift makes history In the spring of 2023, a memo presented to RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme recommended a 24-hour abstinence period before entering duty. The memo included some exceptions. Police organizations that formerly had a zero tolerance policy or advocated abstinence from 28 days before taking office, today require 24 hours of abstinence or that agents are simply fit to carry out their duties, could we read in the note obtained last year latest by The Canadian Press thanks to the Access to Information Act. The union had informed management that the use of cannabis for recreational purposes was one of the most discussed topics during recruitment sessions.
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Changing this cannabis policy could encourage the recruitment of new agents.
Under the new policy, all RCMP employees must be fit to perform their duties when they report for duty, which means, among other things, that they must be fit for duty when they report for duty. they must not be impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Substance use can have negative effects on the performance, conduct, well-being and work environment of the person concerned and others, and it can compromise the safety of police services, warns the RCMP in its policy published on January 11 on its website.
The policy warns that the risk of tampering of consciousness following consumption of a substance such as cannabis varies depending on the characteristic traits of the person concerned, their consumption habits and the quality of the product consumed.
So that it may turn out to be different from one consumer to another and from one consumption to another. The safest way to avoid any safety risks is to refrain from consuming them.
The RCMP says it reviewed all aspects of its operations before implementing its new policy.
Many members of the RCMP operate in a unique operational environment and, playing the role of first responders in rural and isolated areas across the country, can be called back to work at any time.
A quote from Excerpt from the new RCMP policy
The RCMP will not provide further comment on its new policy.
In his statement, Brian Sauvé mentions that the policy excludes divers and pilots, who must respect the obligations of their respective professional organizations.