Immigrant support group calls for more information surrounding marijuana legislation

As Canada gets ready to legalize marijuana, the head of a B.C. immigrant social services organization says she's keeping a close eye on newlegislationfrom all levels of government.

QueenieChoo, CEO ofUnited Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society (SUCCESS), says her organization is reviewing its employee policies around recreational marijuana use in the workplace ahead of the legalization.

SUCCESSis also working togive information regarding marijuana legalizationto parents in B.C.'s diverse communitiesas it becomes available fromthe federal, provincial and municipal governments.

While speaking on CBC's On the Coast, Choo said there is a lack of drug education available to newly arrivedAsian families in Canada.

"Certainly there is a bit of a taboo and a stigma attached to it," said Choo.

Opium Wars

Drug use isshameful formany Chinese familiesand it mayevokememoriesof the Opium Wars period in Chinese history.

Choo said it's important not to generalize when speaking about Asian immigrants as a whole there are many Asian families open to the idea of marijuana howeverstigma can make it hard forparents to speak with their children about drug use.

"Many Asian families do think taking drugs might not be a good thing, especially youth," said Choo.

The organization is also looking at what new laws willmeanto its own staff.

"We've started the process of trying to understand the legislation. How does it impact the workplace? How can staff be supported with the information?" said Choo.

She said it's important that new immigrant workers in Canada understand how theirperformance couldbe adversely affected if they use recreational marijuana during work hours.

"One of the key components is the education ... What are the impacts? What should the community do in order to make sure it's a win-win situation for all?"

With files from On the Coast

Join CBC Vancouver at 419: Apublic forum on cannabis and youth Thursday, April 19at 7:30 p.m. at Vancouver Technical High School.Go tocbc.ca/bcto register for free tickets. If you can't be in the live audience you can listen on the radioor watch the Facebook Live broadcast onCBC Vancouver's Facebook page.