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“We have certainly failed more people in Colorado (for drug use) after legalization than we did before,” he said, adding he was unable to give specific numbers.

“There’s a link, there’s a cause. Even during the recruitment phase where we warn them we’ll do a test, a surprising number still test positive.”

Canada’s Liberal government campaigned on a pledge to legalize marijuana for recreational use, arguing prohibition does not prevent young people from using the drug. It also said too many Canadians end up with criminal records for possessing small amounts and legalization would help remove the criminal element linked to the drug.

Photo by Colleen De Neve Colleen De Neve / Calgary Herald

But Jeff Tonken, CEO of Calgary-based natural gas producer Birchcliff Energy, agreed with Precision’s Neveu that employee costs will rise if the government succeeds in legalizing recreational pot by July 1, 2018.

“It’s going to be more costly for us to police the safety of our people,” he said.

He said workers sign an agreement when hired giving permission for random tests for drugs and alcohol consumption.

If someone fails a test, they must leave the job site, he said, but the company may still be responsible for paying for substance abuse treatment or covering a leave of absence.

SureHire Inc., an Edmonton-based drug testing company with branches across Canada, charges between $85 and $135 for a 12-panel point of collection test or a saliva drug test. A hair drug test costs $275 to $325, but costs rise if the sample is “non-negative” because it must then be sent to a lab for confirmation. Usually, the company pays.