Air Canada and Westjet...what a joke

[Puffpuffpass]

What a time to be alive, sure would be nice to go down and pick up a pack of spliffs at Shoppers da night....In time I hope. I’ve been debating jumping on as lead of the pilots for Cannibis group and try and speed up the process but it’s to much of a risk.....worst part is, is it was easier for us god like folks to have the odd puff when it was illegal and not spoken about.....I’ve stayed well clear of it now for a while....guaranteed random testing coming on soon... I’m a pound 14 beers tonight and watch the good ole ‘ockey game.

[IKEA_Monkey]

Reefer madness isn't going to go away overnight. TC has a hard enough time keeping the lights on at their office, never mind fulfilling their mandate (fatigue?). How then should they have responded to cannabis legalisation?

The answer is they cannot, at least not at this time. To implement a sound cannabis policy (especially one concerning impairment), TC would first require a substantial amount of factual information. To the surprise of many, our scientific understanding of cannabis is almost non existent. Most people have a social understanding of cannabis and it's effects which leads them to believe it is well understood. It is not. In reality the legal status of cannabis has prohibited almost all research of any significance. Only now with legalisation, will meaningful studies commence. So bereft of any real (legal) understanding TC and other parties have defaulted to the most conservative policy - zero tolerance.

Over the next few years there will emerge a scientific definition for impairment. The legal requirement to resolve this issue is simply too important to ignore any longer. There is a coming tidal wave of litigation stemming from offences committed under the Highway Traffic Act (DUI). And as we are discussing here, labour across the country will be seeking answers as well. Because people will appeal the definition of impairment as it currently stands and rightfully so.

Legalisation has outpaced the science surrounding cannabis. I can sympathise with many of you who would much rather have a toke than a few pints on your time off but I would encourage you to refrain until proper policy is in place. Let other members of our society martyr themselves through the legal system to better define cannabis impairment. As a pilot, it's not worth risking your employment.

That all being said I doubt I'll be required to abstain for the remaining 35 years of my career. Progress will come in time.

[pianokeys]

spliffs

da night

god like folks

I’m a pound 14 beers

good ole

‘ockey game.

I bet you live in YYT.

[Puffpuffpass]

spliffs

da night

god like folks

I’m a pound 14 beers

good ole

‘ockey game.

I bet you live in YYT.

Nope, try again, I like this game.....

[telex]

spliffs

da night

god like folks

I’m a pound 14 beers

good ole

‘ockey game.

I bet you live in YYT.

Nope, try again, I like this game.....

Leduc...

[jakeandelwood]

Alcohol used to be used as a pain relief, on the old sailing ships they'd give you a bottle and a stick to bite while they hacked your injured leg off.

[digits_]

Alcohol used to be used as a pain relief, on the old sailing ships they'd give you a bottle and a stick to bite while they hacked your injured leg off.

Now that would be a great policy: you can drink and smoke whenever you want, but if you do, it will cost you a limb.

[Puffpuffpass]

I bet you live in YYT.

Nope, try again, I like this game.....

Leduc...

Thats not even funny....

[mbav8r]

Since there are no meaningful studies on the effects of cannabis, can I assume there are the same amount of studies on second hand smoke from it as well?
Without that, how could the Ontario governments make it legal to smoke pot where ever it’s legal to smoke cigarettes?
To me this means I can walk out of a mall into a cloud of secondhand pot smoke and potentially fail a drug test. To me this is much worse than attending a party of pot smokers because if I did I would turn around and walk out, not worth the risk but to allow this in public is incomprehensible.
It should be considered the same as any other mind altering substance, not allowed anywhere underage people could be, period!

[Outlaw58]

Invoke the Ross Rebagliati defense

[pianokeys]

Nope, try again, I like this game.....

Leduc...

Thats not even funny....

Agreed. Second shot, Sydney Mines.

[cptnCanada]

Yet the military sees fit that a 28 day abstinence is perfectly fine. Double standard much government?

Eating shitty food is an impairment. Not exercising is an impairment, booze, FATIGUE, I could go on, yet everyone seems to be hung up on cannabis.

I don't understand how some of you think it is OK for a company to dictate a full ban on something like this. Slippery slope folks. Those who consume alcohol should start to sweat a bit as that could be next. I can guarantee you if alcohol prohibition was ending it would be a ban on booze.

Your country has given you a right. You company doesn't have the right to take that away.

And for those of you who think smoking pot turns you into a lazy stereotypical pothead....isnt alcohol proven to kill brain cells?

Double standards folks. You either support our right to be able to take a puff on our own time and come to work fit for duty, or a ban anything and everything that may not be Dr. Oz approved as being the be all and end all to steller human health.

[valleyboy]

scientifically proven medicine for many diseases and ailments

-- I guess that is why the medical profession is so opposed to it

Nothing will change - the black market will still be there and will have it's customers and the government will be so easy to compete against. All the "bad guys" have to do is supply a "better" product since the prices will always be a little less and they likely do door to door --

It will still boil down to do at your own risk. Companies will bring in their policy and if you choose not to follow it be prepared to lose your job. One a more somber note. Have an accident and you are tested (alive or dead) kiss everything good by. You will be hung out to dry and if you aren't in the position to care after the fact your family certainly will.

But we see it everyday, people ready to lose it all for a few minutes of silliness, add pot to that 20yr to 25yr brain and well, lets say I have witnessed higher thinking in action more than once.

[av8ts]

Since there are no meaningful studies on the effects of cannabis, can I assume there are the same amount of studies on second hand smoke from it as well?
Without that, how could the Ontario governments make it legal to smoke pot where ever it’s legal to smoke cigarettes?
To me this means I can walk out of a mall into a cloud of secondhand pot smoke and potentially fail a drug test. To me this is much worse than attending a party of pot smokers because if I did I would turn around and walk out, not worth the risk but to allow this in public is incomprehensible.
It should be considered the same as any other mind altering substance, not allowed anywhere underage people could be, period!

Many provinces are treating it the same as alcohol. Only to be consumed in your own home or other “permitted” places. Ontario has definitely dropped the ball on this

[jakeandelwood]

Since there are no meaningful studies on the effects of cannabis, can I assume there are the same amount of studies on second hand smoke from it as well?
Without that, how could the Ontario governments make it legal to smoke pot where ever it’s legal to smoke cigarettes?
To me this means I can walk out of a mall into a cloud of secondhand pot smoke and potentially fail a drug test. To me this is much worse than attending a party of pot smokers because if I did I would turn around and walk out, not worth the risk but to allow this in public is incomprehensible.
It should be considered the same as any other mind altering substance, not allowed anywhere underage people could be, period!

It should be treated the same as booze and cigarettes combined, you can't be in public with open liquor, why should pot be allowed? Why should I have to smell someone else's disgusting pot smoke in a public place?

[CanadianEh]

Policies are now being released for hospitals and they are not implementing any sort of ban. It's simply "do it on your own time, off the property, be fit for work and there's no problems". Perhaps these medical professionals have a better idea of the true effects of cannabis vs. The old boys in airline management and policing

[Dry Guy]

Air traffic controllers can use cannabis off-duty but are expected to be fit to work when they show up for their shifts.

https://www.thestar.com/news/cannabis/2 ... -duty.html

[HansDietrich]

Yet the military sees fit that a 28 day abstinence is perfectly fine. Double standard much government?

Eating shitty food is an impairment. Not exercising is an impairment, booze, FATIGUE, I could go on, yet everyone seems to be hung up on cannabis.

I don't understand how some of you think it is OK for a company to dictate a full ban on something like this. Slippery slope folks. Those who consume alcohol should start to sweat a bit as that could be next. I can guarantee you if alcohol prohibition was ending it would be a ban on booze.

Your country has given you a right. You company doesn't have the right to take that away.

And for those of you who think smoking pot turns you into a lazy stereotypical pothead....isnt alcohol proven to kill brain cells?

Double standards folks. You either support our right to be able to take a puff on our own time and come to work fit for duty, or a ban anything and everything that may not be Dr. Oz approved as being the be all and end all to steller human health.

I strongly agree with everything said above! Spot on! I would expect the unions to start suing the airlines. A company can't forbid an individual to engage in legal activities as long as it does not impair his or her ability to do their job. (Ex. come to work fit to fly). I'm curious how many pilots in Canada smoke weed on a regular basis; and so far, I can't think of a single case where a pilot came to work stoned. I do remember quite a few pilots showing up to work drunk...

[Mr. North]

I can't think of a single case where a pilot came to work stoned.

The pilot of the Tindi Caravan crash in 2011 had THC in his system. TSB pointed to his "impairment" as a principle cause.

Personally I think that's debatable since he was known to be a regular consumer (thereby increasing his tolerance). More concerning to me was his .. running in IFR conditions and a history of poor pilot decision making with next to no company oversight at that time.

[valleyboy]

I have to ask, what exactly "fit for duty" means? Based on self assessment it can't be deemed a 100% fool proof system (yes I understand there is no such noninvasive system, but) by implementation of such "loose" controls is just not acceptable for the protection of crews and clients alike. If a pilot can't see the pitfalls of alcohol and drug use he likely should not be strapping an aircraft to their ass in the first place.