As of: March 26, 2024, 9:46 a.m
By: Lennart Schwenck
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Cannabis will be legalized in Germany from April 1, 2024.
But what does this mean for the workplace?
The German Statutory Accident Insurance has a clear answer.
Frankfurt – A groundbreaking cannabis regulation will come into force in Germany on April 1, 2024: the consumption and purchase of THC-containing cannabis products will be legalized.
But what does this mean for employees and employers?
What restrictions and rules will apply in the workplace and in educational institutions in the future?
Dr.
Stefan Hussy, general manager of the umbrella association of the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV), has a clear stance on cannabis consumption and recently spoke out against smoking weed in the work environment in an interview with
ots news aktuell
.
He emphasized: “Cannabis has no place in the world of work, comparable to alcohol and other drugs.”
Smoking weed at work?!?
The German Statutory Accident Insurance advises against this.
© IMAGO / Sven Simon
German statutory accident insurance: “No place for cannabis in the workplace”
But what about the legal situation?
The situation is different here, because although the law does not prohibit consumption in the workplace, employees are obliged “not to use intoxicants to put themselves in a state in which they can endanger themselves and others,” said DGUV chairman Hussy.
In order to provide clarity, professional associations and accident insurance funds recommend that employers prohibit the consumption of cannabis in the workplace through work instructions or company agreements.
The DGUV chairwoman also made it clear: “For us as statutory accident insurance, safety and health in educational institutions are of particular importance.
For this reason, we consider two points to be fundamental in protecting children and young people: Providing cannabis to minors is and remains a criminal offense.
Public consumption in the immediate vicinity of schools, children’s and youth facilities, playgrounds and public sports facilities will not be tolerated and remains prohibited.”
Cannabis and alcohol in the workplace: “zero tolerance policy”
In the working paper “ZERO alcohol and ZERO cannabis at work and education”, the DGUV calls for the same standards for alcohol and cannabis at work and in educational institutions.
Any consumption that could cause danger must be excluded: “Cannabis consumption must not lead to endangering yourself or others.
There is consensus on this.
However, there are difficulties with regard to the question of how, in cases of suspicion, an impairment of the ability to react due to cannabis can be determined,” the paper states verbatim.
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In order to achieve this, the statutory accident insurance is pushing for evidence-based criteria to determine impairment caused by cannabis consumption and is calling for information campaigns to make the risks of cannabis clear.
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