Since the legalization of cannabis, employers, institutions and security organizations have faced a major challenge: the absence of a reliable tool to detect recent consumption and assess the real state of an individual at the present moment.
Until today, available screening methods, notably urine tests, could indicate consumption dating back several days, or even several weeks, without a direct link to an impairment of capacity at the time of the test. A reality that complicated decision-making and raised important issues in terms of safety, fairness and accountability.
In this context, Alco Prévention Canada announces the arrival in Quebec of the Cannabix Marijuana Breath Test (MBT), a technology making it possible to detect the presence of THC in the breath in the hours following consumption and manufactured in Canada as well.
“We have been asking for a long time for a tool comparable to the breathalyzer, but adapted to cannabis. Today, we can say that that day has finally arrived. » — Josée Lacasse, Director, Alco Prevention Canada
An expected response to a very real problem In several sectors, notably construction, transportation and industrial settings, the ability to assess the real state of an employee at the present moment is a critical issue. “For years, employers had to deal with imperfect tools that did not make it possible to clearly distinguish past consumption from an impaired state. This technology is a game-changer by finally offering a reading that is much closer to reality,” underlines Josée Lacasse, director at Alco Prevention Canada. The Cannabix MBT targets a detection window of approximately four hours following consumption, i.e. the most critical period in terms of impairment. Non-invasive, rapid and designed for field use, it is part of a fairer and more scientifically defensible approach. “Approximately 13% of Canadians who consume cannabis say they do so before or during work. »- Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA).
A concrete, modern and equitable solutionThe Cannabix MBT corrects this major weakness by making it possible to detect THC in the breath in a window of approximately 4 hours following consumption, i.e. the most critical period in terms of impairment. This technology:* targets recent consumption* is non-invasive* offers a more equitable, scientific and defensible approach A critical issue for at-risk environments
A security and responsibility issue for organizations The absence of a suitable tool has long placed employers in a gray zone, between security obligations and respect for employee rights. In a context where the requirements in terms of prevention and risk management are constantly evolving, having a tool capable of measuring the real state at the present moment becomes an essential lever. “The question is no longer only to know whether a person has consumed, but whether they are able to work in complete safety at the precise moment in which they occupy their position” – adds Josée Lacasse.
A technology now accessible in QuebecWith the introduction of Cannabix MBT, Alco Prévention Canada makes accessible a solution awaited for several years by businesses, public organizations and security stakeholders. This innovation paves the way for screening practices better adapted to current realities, by making it possible to combine security, rigor and fairness in the management of situations related to cannabis. “This technology is not aimed at a single sector, but at all environments where security depends on the real state of individuals at the present moment. » — said Josée Lacasse