In an article for IOL News, labour lawyer John Botha says there are several significant changes coming up in 2024 that will reshape the way organizations operate.

He says employers need to revisit substance use policies to align them with new legal frameworks.

He says the impending Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill legalises the cultivation and possession of cannabis for personal use and that this has ramifications in labour law.

One of the key issues regarding cannabis and labour law is the extent of “impairment” by a worker having THC in their system. THC resides in the bloodstream for up to 30 days, but its presence does not necessarily mean that the worker is not capable of operating machinery or any other heavy duty equipment.

The Cannabis Bill does outlaw the use of cannabis by drivers and it foresees changes in legislation in this regard.

He says that likewise the “pending Tobacco Products & E-delivery Bill seeks to regulate the sale and use of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems. Employers need to revisit workplace policies to address the use of electronic delivery systems and smoking.”

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