BIG-BUSINESS LOBBY URGES DELAY IN EASING MARIJUANA LAWS

Chief Executives Group Fears Bad Effects On Productivity, Safety, Attendance

Canada's largest and most influential business group is urging the federal
government to delay passage of legislation to decriminalize marijuana until
a thorough study has been conducted of its impact on the workplace.

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives, which represents 150 major
multinational corporations, warns that pushing ahead with the marijuana law
could harm the economy because of injuries, absenteeism and poor job
performance.

Executive vice-president David Stewart-Patterson said it's estimated that
substance abuse in the workplace costs the economy at least $18.4 billion
annually and that is likely to be exacerbated by the relaxation of the
cannabis law.

U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci has already predicted that a more liberal
marijuana law in Canada would result in a U.S. border crackdown at already
congested border crossings, which cost Canadians billions of dollars annually.

Mr. Stewart-Patterson said it is imperative for the federal government to
conduct a major study of how marijuana affects job performance before it
wipes out criminal penalties for possession of less than 15 grams of
marijuana and hashish.

There are only a few known studies of the effects of cannabis use in the
workplace, but none has been done in Canada, according to Mr.
Stewart-Patterson, whose organization has been researching the subject.

He points to a 1999 study of New Zealand forestry workers that suggests
looser drug laws could lead to higher on-the-job injuries and lost days.

The study by Canterbury University in Christchurch discovered marijuana
users in New Zealand's forestry sector had almost three times as many
lost-time injuries as non-users and twice the number of sick days.

Although the users said getting stoned helped them relax and do a "better
quality job," the study concluded that cannabis use actually increased
their fatigue and the chance they would make errors in judgment and get
involved in an accident.

"So we really don't know what the effect is going to be on the workplace in
terms of health and safety in terms of productivity and absenteeism and
employer-paid health costs," said Mr. Stewart-Patterson.

"Maybe it would be a good idea to do our homework and figure out what those
costs might be so we can make an informed choice before going ahead with
the bill."

The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse also lists a 1996 study by Texas
Christian University of marijuana use among 4,600 municipal employees in
four cities in the U.S. Southwest.

About eight per cent were marijuana users and the survey found these
workers reported more absenteeism, tardiness, accidents, compensation
claims and job turnover than workers who had not used the drug.

Mr. Stewart-Patterson. said major corporations are concerned
decriminalization would only encourage more workers to smoke marijuana and
this would have a negative effect on the workplace and the economy.

He points to a 1992 study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse that
found the total cost of drug and alcohol abuse on the job was $18.4 billion
annually.

However, he said that study did not break down the costs of legal and
illegal drugs in the workplace, which is why the business group is calling
for a delay in the bill's passage