Request ID: FOI-2798-2324 Date published: 24 November 2023
You asked
As you may already know doctors can legally prescribe medical cannabis as a treatment to patients since 2018. Please could you provide some information around safety critical roles and prescription medical cannabis. I have a few questions:
If one of your employees in a safety critical role for example a track operative or an electrician at London Underground has been prescribed medical cannabis are they still able to work? Is it like other medications or are there exceptions for prescribed medical cannabis? If they are found to have THC in their system can they be dismissed/disciplined? Would the employee have to disclose information about their prescription to their employer?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2798-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5th November 2023 asking for information about the use of medicinal cannabis by TfL staff.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“As you may already know doctors can legally prescribe medical cannabis as a treatment to patients since 2018. Please could you provide some information around safety critical roles and prescription medical cannabis. I have a few questions:
If one of your employees in a safety critical role for example a track operative or an electrician at London Underground has been prescribed medical cannabis are they still able to work? Is it like other medications or are there exceptions for prescribed medical cannabis? If they are found to have THC in their system can they be dismissed/disciplined? Would the employee have to disclose information about their prescription to their employer?”.
Employees who are taking any prescribed medications are required to disclose this to their employing manager so that an assessment can be made as to whether it is safe for them to carry out their role. If they do not disclose their medication and subsequently test positive, the Code of Conduct and the terms of the Drugs and Alcohol policies will apply. The nature of the medication is irrelevant, so cannabis-based medications will fall within the scope of these requirements.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
