Considering the potential of loss of production, disruption in the workplace due to the risk of impaired machinery operation, the impact on interpersonal relations in the workplace, and the potential increased costs of absenteeism and health programs, the Surrey Board of Trade believes that marijuana should remain illegal.
Legalization of marijuana would result in increased use, and the cost to business health care programs would be negatively impacted.
Regular marijuana use can have the following impacts on an individual’s health and thus performance on the job through:
• Impaired concentration and short-term memory difficulties;
• Enhanced sensory perception, distorted sense of time and space, and inability to differentiate between essentials and non-essentials;
• Lower attentiveness, co-ordination, motor-skills, reaction time, and slurred speech;
• Extended impact as the multiple ingredients in a marijuana cigarette remain in the body for a long time;
• Impact on staff relations, as some people withdrawing experience fearfulness, anxiety, depression, and in some extreme cases, panic, terror or paranoia, and hallucinations;
• Risk of disease as the high tar content of a joint contributes to chronic cough, sore throat and sinusitis, and onset of cancer (mouth, throat, larynx);
• An increase in heart rate and decrease in blood pressure could lead to fainting and would be hazardous in operating machinery;
• Impairment of immune system leading to increased absence;
• Loss of interest in work and unwillingness to perform;
• Higher rate of absenteeism than other employees.
Anita Patil Huberman, CEO
Surrey Board of Trade