Intros New Medical Cannabis Patient – Construction Work & Declaring Prescription 🌿🏗️

[CGwestcoast]

Alright folks

Thought I’d make my first post and say hello. I’m a brand-new MC patient and still getting my head around everything

I’m working in construction and I’ll be starting on some new sites soon. One thing I’m unsure about is whether I should be declaring my prescription when I start on a new site.

Most construction sites seem to have a blanket “no drugs” policy, so I’m wondering what other medical cannabis patients have done in the same situation.

Do you tell the site manager/employer before starting? And if you have declared it, what was the reaction like? Did they put any extra conditions in place or was it basically just noted on your file?

I’m not operating cranes or anything like that, but obviously I want to do everything properly and make sure I’m covered while taking my prescribed medication.

Would be good to hear from anyone else in construction, especially anyone who’s had to declare their prescription on a new site.

Cheers

 

[Barry]

Welcome, to me it would depends on whether you work medicated or not,

 

[CGwestcoast]

Hello Barry, hope your well and thanks for your reply


Yeah, I do work medicated as I take my medication several times throughout the day, from morning through to night. That said, I’m never impaired or intoxicated from my medication — I take it as prescribed and know how it affects me. I’m still fully capable of carrying out my work safely and to the same standard as normal.

 

[Barry]

Tough decision, hid my use for many years, well also was illegal stigma from cannabis is real, some will never accept. If there is a risk of you being culpable legally, I think you would be obliged to, perhaps sound out with a theoretical question to HR? what if type question, so you get a feel for the stance, as to whether it is a good idea, unfortunately only you can answer that, as every situation is unique.

 

[CGwestcoast]

Yeah, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I hid my use for years as well, partly because of the stigma and obviously because it was illegal at the time. Now that I’m a legal medical patient, I’m trying to work out where I stand with things like construction sites and whether I’m actually expected to declare it.

I think the HR “what if” approach is probably a good shout, just to get a feel for their stance without immediately putting myself in the spotlight. At the end of the day, every company and site seems to have a different attitude towards it, so I suppose it’s about finding the right balance between being open and protecting myself professionally.

Cheers for the advice mate, really appreciate it

 

[Barry]

Yeah, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I hid my use for years as well, partly because of the stigma and obviously because it was illegal at the time. Now that I’m a legal medical patient, I’m trying to work out where I stand with things like construction sites and whether I’m actually expected to declare it.

I think the HR “what if” approach is probably a good shout, just to get a feel for their stance without immediately putting myself in the spotlight. At the end of the day, every company and site seems to have a different attitude towards it, so I suppose it’s about finding the right balance between being open and protecting myself professionally.

Cheers for the advice mate, really appreciate it

I ran a hardwood joinery, site installations etc, spindles & saws, medicated mostly, 20 years no accidents or injury, - but yeah H&S in the UK is off the charts. good luck

 

[Joint Account]

Yeah, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I hid my use for years as well, partly because of the stigma and obviously because it was illegal at the time. Now that I’m a legal medical patient, I’m trying to work out where I stand with things like construction sites and whether I’m actually expected to declare it.

I think the HR “what if” approach is probably a good shout, just to get a feel for their stance without immediately putting myself in the spotlight. At the end of the day, every company and site seems to have a different attitude towards it, so I suppose it’s about finding the right balance between being open and protecting myself professionally.

Cheers for the advice mate, really appreciate it

It depends on your contract.

If your contract says you're to state medications then you need to declare it as not doing so in itself can be gross misconduct if something were to happen that could have easily been prevented with prior knowledge.

If you work with or around heavy machinery in any capacity then you will need to declare it.

If you have drug testing you will need to declare it before a sample is provided, providing your medical defense after drug testing is not advised.

Ultimately it comes down to whether they're able to insure you whilst on medications that can lead to impairment.

It's not so much about your safety, although that's very important, it is about keeping others around you safe. Hence the requirements to disclose.

 

[Barry]

It depends on your contract.

If your contract says you're to state medications then you need to declare it as not doing so in itself can be gross misconduct if something were to happen that could have easily been prevented with prior knowledge.

If you work with or around heavy machinery in any capacity then you will need to declare it.

If you have drug testing you will need to declare it before a sample is provided, providing your medical defense after drug testing is not advised.

Ultimately it comes down to whether they're able to insure you whilst on medications that can lead to impairment.

It's not so much about your safety, although that's very important, it is about keeping others around you safe. Hence the requirements to disclose.

lawyers but he is correct

 

[S.O.H™]

Alright folks

Thought I’d make my first post and say hello. I’m a brand-new MC patient and still getting my head around everything

I’m working in construction and I’ll be starting on some new sites soon. One thing I’m unsure about is whether I should be declaring my prescription when I start on a new site.

Most construction sites seem to have a blanket “no drugs” policy, so I’m wondering what other medical cannabis patients have done in the same situation.

Do you tell the site manager/employer before starting? And if you have declared it, what was the reaction like? Did they put any extra conditions in place or was it basically just noted on your file?

I’m not operating cranes or anything like that, but obviously I want to do everything properly and make sure I’m covered while taking my prescribed medication.

Would be good to hear from anyone else in construction, especially anyone who’s had to declare their prescription on a new site.

Cheers

Hi. Ain't it classed as prescribed medication? Depends on a few factors. Could you just not use whilst at work?

AI Generated

Navigating blanket "no drugs" policies in construction as a medical cannabis patient requires balancing legal protections with the reality of strict site safety rules.
While you are under no blanket legal obligation to disclose every personal medical detail to an employer, construction is a high-risk, safety-critical environment. Relying purely on surprise if a random or pre-employment drug screen flags positive carries significant friction, as standard panels test for THC metabolites regardless of whether it is a legal prescription.
Approaching this scenario successfully involves several key considerations:

• Pre-emptive Disclosure vs. Privacy: Many patients find it safer to disclose their prescription before starting on a new site or undergoing a drug test. Informing occupational health or HR ahead of time prevents a sudden automatic "fail" on a drug screen from turning into a disciplinary issue or site ban.
• The Power of Occupational Health: If a site has a rigid safety policy, routing the conversation through an independent occupational health provider rather than a site foreman is often effective. Occupational health can review your prescription, confirm that you are using your medication responsibly, and advise management on your fitness to work without needing to share your private medical diagnosis.
• Safety-Critical Duties: Be prepared for your duties to be assessed objectively. If your role involves operating heavy plant machinery, driving, or working at height, policies will be heavily scrutinized. Transparency allows you to establish clear boundaries regarding dosing schedules (e.g., ensuring you are never impaired on shift).
• Carrying Documentation: Always keep a copy of your clinic letter, prescription label, and ID details accessible. If questioned by site security or safety officers following any internal screening, having immediate proof that your medication is legally prescribed under a specialist doctor changes the context entirely from illicit use to legitimate medical management.

Many patients choose to have a quiet, confidential word with the principal contractor’s health and safety manager or occupational health team prior to their first day, framing it around compliance and safety rather than asking for permission.
How do your day-to-day tasks on these new sites break down—are you mainly operating machinery, or is it more trade-focused?

 

[Hazy-Haze]

For me it depends what you are doing. if you are a site labourer lugging things around all day, I'd ask for forgiveness rather than permission should it become an issue. Tell no one until you have the job. if they sack you or get rid of you and you are using it legally for a disability, you're covered.

If you operate heavy machinery or vehicles, i'd be very careful. if you have a bad accident and you haven't declared it and HSE prosecutes, they will absolutely throw the book at you. On a construction site you had better be shit hot if you operate stuff like FLT or excavators. FTR I drive FLT, but in warehouses and I can not tell you a single time in my entire career i wasn't high on some level. I've also never had a crash or accident and I am autistically methodical in how I do things. I have also been a user for around 35 years and I know my tolerances and I only use at night a couple of hours before bed (and never at or before work).

But you take your life in your own hands. A lot depends on what you do for work.