Cannabis Reform Bill could lead to more workplace accidents, says employers’ association

The Malta Employers' Association (MEA) has suggested that increased consumption of cannabis due to legalisation could lead to more accidents at the workplace.

The MEA listed a number of concerns it had with the Cannabis Reform Bill recently presented to Parliament.

Insisting that the bill should focus on decriminalisation - a point agreed upon by all partners of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) - instead of promoting consumption, the MEA said there were no assurances to employers about the effects of cannabis use at the workplace.

The MEA accused the Government of ignoring its concerns and ploughing ahead before the election "for reasons that are unstated yet known to all", and listed a series of questions related to the bill, including why it omitted any reference to the "wealth of research" on the link between cannabis use and increased accidents at the workplace; whether the Government had approached the insurance industry on the matter, and whether it had consulted the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) about the ramifications of the Bill on workplaces.

"The MEA will be insisting that the Bill includes the option of having zero-tolerance policies at the workplace, and that employers will also have the right to conduct random tests in the interest of their employees and their clients, and also to protect themselves from any liability."

The assocation noted that eight out of 10 MCESD partners had called for the cannabis debate to be postponed until after the elections so the issue could be discussed with "cooler heads".