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Canadian cops will go from cracking down on cannabis to being potential consumers as of the Oct. 17 legalization date, which has police agencies rushing to update workplace policies around substance use and impairment.

“We can’t prohibit members from using it, because it will be a legal substance,” said Vancouver Police Department Supt. Martin Bruce. “Our message to them is to make informed decisions around usage to ensure they perform their duties sober.”

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The VPD’s policy around substance use is that police officers must show up for work unimpaired by alcohol or prescription medication.

“The legalization of cannabis adds a layer to the other substances,” said Bruce, who is in charge of personnel services for the force.

However, Bruce said the difference, and the challenge, is that there is a lot of conflicting information about how the level of impairment varies from smoking cannabis versus consuming high-potency edibles.