Where, when and how often public servants can consume cannabis come Oct. 17 has been a burning question since legalization passed into royal ascent.

Now, the SA国际影视传媒� Canada's federal police force SA国际影视传媒� has answered.

Off-duty Yellowknife G Division members, along with their colleagues across the country, are allowed to consume cannabis SA国际影视传媒� but can't within 28 days of shift.

The force cites safety and a lack of evidence related to cannabis impairment as justification for the mandatory month-long gap between consumption and police service.

MountiesSA国际影视传媒� revised SA国际影视传媒渟ubstance use policySA国际影视传媒� will take effect when legalization does, on Oct. 17, stated a national spokesperson in an email to Yellowknifer.

SA国际影视传媒淭he policy reflects the duty of care the has for its members and the communities it serves,SA国际影视传媒� stated the spokesperson.

All regular member officers assume SA国际影视传媒渟afety-sensitive positions,SA国际影视传媒� stated , meaning they must remain alert and be at the top of their mental and physical game to avoid accidents or inadequate response times.

But some critics say the new guidelines go too far.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a knee-jerk reaction. It's not based on good research and unfortunately I think it's inevitably going to lead to conflict,SA国际影视传媒�  said Canadian Police Association president Tom Stamatakis in an interview with Yellowknifer. SA国际影视传媒淚t's not a practical policy by any stretch.SA国际影视传媒�

By imposing a 28-day restriction on cannabis use for its members, Stamatakis said the is SA国际影视传媒渆ffectively creating an outright prohibition.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 don't know too many people that have the ability to take 29 days off work so that can consume marijuana one day and then have 28 clear days before ... they go to work,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The says the policy is based on scientific evidence SA国际影视传媒� and a lack thereof.

SA国际影视传媒淪cience shows that cannabis can intoxicate beyond initial consumption and that there are no established safe limits or data on how it affects performance,SA国际影视传媒� say , citing findings made by the Government of Canada.

But with an absence of SA国际影视传媒渆stablished scientific information about cannabis impairment,SA国际影视传媒� the says itSA国际影视传媒檚 taking a measured approach when it comes to regulating cannabis use by its employees.

SA国际影视传媒淭he policy is taking a careful approach at this time to ensure workplace and public safety is maintained at all times,SA国际影视传媒� states the online release.

But Stamatakis says he's unaware of scientific evidence that would warrant a 28-day prohibition on the use of cannabis for members.

SA国际影视传媒淭o create these artificial prohibitions SA国际影视传媒� I'm not aware of any evidence that supports doing that, frankly.SA国际影视传媒�

Stamatakis believes post-legalization policies should mirror the current conditions placed on other legal drugs.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's going to be legal SA国际影视传媒� why not treat it the way we treat alcohol or prescription drugs?,SA国际影视传媒� said Stamatakis.

The new guidelines do acknowledge the vast gap in restrictions between legal weed and alcohol, but  cite the uncertainty of marijuana's impact on work performance and impairment as a catalyst in the decision making.

members wonSA国际影视传媒檛 face random drug tests, the new guidelines stipulate.

That leaves Stamatakis wondering how it will be determined if an officer has used cannabis within 28 days of reporting to duty.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's a poorly thought out policy decision because how do you assess impairment? How do you manage accidental exposures to cannabis? Where will they find the resources to assess officers? There's a lot of questions,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Stamatakis would like to see the SA国际影视传媒渋mpracticalSA国际影视传媒� policy approach scrapped for the status quo.

SA国际影视传媒淔rom my perspective, a reasonable approach would be continue to demand that when officers report for duty they're fit for duty, not impaired by any substance. There should be zero tolerance approach in the workplace,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He said the new approach is a ill-thought blanket approach to confronting cannabis legalization.

SA国际影视传媒淐reating a policy that's going to have a negative impact on the vast majority of your members who are responsible, who report to work everyday fit for duty, so they can manage those few exceptions, is not the right way to create workplace policy and it's the kind of response from the  that has led to so many issues in the organization, frankly,SA国际影视传媒� added Stamatakis.