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Personnel Policy Regarding Substance Use and Abuse
Any staff member, including volunteers and interns, whose work at the BOEC is impaired as a result
of the use of alcohol, marijuana, drugs or any other controlled substance will be subject to disciplinary
action, up to and including termination. The possession, use, sale or distribution of any controlled
substance by any staff member during work may result in termination and revocation of any skiing
Off duty, while at any BOEC facility, BOEC sponsored function, or while skiing and riding using a
BOEC issued pass, staff members are expected to observe state and federal law and use good judgment
and moderation in the consumption of alcohol, marijuana or any legal substance. Staff must assure that
their behavior, capacities and impact on others are not adversely affected, and do not reflect negatively on
Smoking of any substance is prohibited in and immediately outside entrances to all BOEC facilities and
vehicles, and while working any BOEC program activity.
With the legalization of medical marijuana in Colorado and the passing of Amendment 64 in Colorado
which legalizes recreational use of marijuana, it is important we manage its use carefully and properly on
outdoor and adventure programs. The management of marijuana is similar to smoking tobacco cigarettes,
drinking alcohol and the use of other judgment impairing substances and additionally has some unique
Legal stipulations on recreational marijuana use are recognized and enforced by the BOEC:
1. Marijuana use is still illegal according to the Federal Government. It is therefore illegal to
distribute, possess or use marijuana on public lands. This includes National Parks, National
Forest, BLM land and most ski resorts and rivers as they are commonly on federal public land.
2. Most ski resorts have bylaws which prohibit the use or possession of marijuana on their property.
According to the Skier Responsibility Code a skier may not use the lift or ski runs under the
influence of drugs or alcohol:
a. “LIFT SAFETY. Under Colorado law, you cannot board a lift unless you have sufficient
physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to negotiate or to use such lift safely, or until
you have asked for and received information sufficient to enable you to use the lift safely.
You may not use a lift or any ski trail when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
3. It is illegal on both the state and federal level to use marijuana in public, even with an MMJ card
and even after Amendment 64 comes into effect January 2014.
4. State marijuana laws do not require employers to accommodate the medical use of marijuana.
BOEC program policies, procedures and considerations regarding marijuana use:
1) Employees (includes Course Directors, Instructors, Assistants, Interns, Volunteers, admin,
river techs, ropes techs and anyone directly employed by the BOEC, paid or otherwise) are
prohibited from possessing, using or being under the influence of marijuana while working a
BOEC course or program. Most specifically, employees may not
a. ski or use lifts when under the influence of marijuana or alcohol (this includes
marijuana for medicinal purposes);
b. be on BOEC property used by the public or while being used for BOEC courses,
or on public land adjacent to BOEC property while possessing or using marijuana
(the Intern cabin is considered non-public BOEC property and is not used for
BOEC programs);
c. participate in any BOEC event or activity, while under the influence of marijuana
or marijuana derived THC containing substances.
2) Employees must be ready for work with no detectable levels of marijuana in their system. As
an employer in Colorado we do not allow our staff to be impaired or use any drugs or alcohol
when in a position of responsibility for our participants.
a. The only exception is limited amounts of alcohol may be consumed by some
staff at the end of a day of programming; when outdoor, adventure, and
hazardous activities are finished and the adult group is having some alcohol
with, or after dinner for celebratory purposes. This exception does not apply to
marijuana use.
3) Recreational or medicinal use of marijuana during an employee’s time-off or while “off duty”
must observe these rules:
a. No use of marijuana in or around any of the BOECs facilities, or in public, in
such a way that it effects others by way of second hand smoke, odors, trash,
butts, ashes, or smoking paraphernalia.
b. No use on adjacent public lands
c. No use in any way that can be detected by participants or affects courses at the
BOEC.
1) We do not allow recreational use of marijuana on our programs.
2) We do not allow any participants to purchase marijuana while on a BOEC program – even for
legitimate medicinal use.
3) We may allow a participant with a legitimate medicinal need for marijuana to use it
appropriately on our courses, but only with PD or APD approval.
a. We will ask these participants to list marijuana as a medication on the enrollment forms,
ask them to provide a MMJ card, and/or will discourage its use on a BOEC program.
b. Use of tinctures and other edible forms are preferred, as opposed to smoking which can
be a nuisance and create an unwanted culture around smoking, which is contrary to the
goals of many of our courses.
c. Participants who use medical marijuana will be instructed and reminded as to the laws
regarding public use and use on surrounding public lands.
4) Staff will discuss the safety and judgment impairing aspects of marijuana use with our
participants and agree on a schedule with allows them to administer their medicinal marijuana
outside of program activities, at the end of the day, and at times which do not leave them
under the influence during critical times.
Admissions and Management of Legitimate Use of Medical Marijuana at the BOEC
Evidence supports the use of marijuana and similar cannabinoids for pain associated with multiple
sclerosis (MS); spinal cord injury, cancer, and other painful states; tremors, spasms, and spasticity
associated with spinal cord injury; nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy; and loss of
appetite in AIDS or cancer. Other potential uses include anxiety disorders; agitation in patients with
Alzheimer’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); tics and behavioral problems in patients with
Tourette’s syndrome; tardive dyskinesia induced by neuroleptic drugs; gastrointestinal (GI) disorders,
including gastric ulcers, cholera-induced diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease; cardiovascular
disorders, including hypertension, hemorrhagic and cardiogenic shock, and atherosclerosis; inhibition of
angiogenesis and growth of tumors, including gliomas, lymphomas, and lung, breast, colorectal, thyroid,
prostate, and skin cancer cells; and glaucoma.
With this in mind we have to remain open to the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of marijuana as
determined by a patient and their doctor. We have so far had success and very few complications with the
management of MMJ on courses by participants.
We need to be assured that any participant is using marijuana for legitimate medicinal reasons regardless
of whether they have a card or not. This is an area where we need to be more clear on what constitutes
“legitimate medicinal use” for our program participants.
Currently we are following the State of Colorado guidelines for qualifying Debilitating Conditions for
Medical Marijuana Use.
Per the Colorado constitution, medical marijuana may be recommended for the following:
• HIV or AIDS positive
The patient has a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that produces one or more of
the following and which, in the physician’s professional opinion, may be alleviated by the medical
• Cachexia (General Weakness) - marked by loss of appetite, weight loss, muscular wasting, and
general mental and physical debilitation.
• Persistent muscle spasms
• Severe nausea
These conditions were NOT approved to be included in the list of debilitating medical conditions
provided for in the Colorado constitution.
• Atherosclerosis
• Bi-polar Disease
• Chron’s Disease
• Diabetes Mellitus, types 1 & 2
• Diabetic Retinopathy
