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WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government was still scrambling Wednesday to prepare for the federal legalization of recreational cannabis next week.

Public service announcements were launched, a drug-testing policy for civil servants was revamped, and police forces were still working to get their hands on oral screening machines to test drivers for cannabis.

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“Due to delays by the federal government and the processing time for delivery of the devices, police in Manitoba will unfortunately not have the oral fluid screening devices in place by Oct. 17,” Justice Minister Cliff Cullen said.

Some 21 devices should be in use by the end of the fiscal year in March, Cullen said. Police for now will continue to rely largely on other impairment tests, such as physical co-ordination.

The province also reworked its impairment policy for government employees. The new rules say that workers “must not smell of alcohol or cannabis” while on duty and can be sent home if their superiors suspect they might be impaired.