A new bill focusing on medical marijuana and workers’ compensation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature as debate over legalizing recreational cannabis gains momentum. The bill, introduced by Representative David Delloso, would require employers in the state to reimburse injured workers who use medical cannabis as part of their treatment.
Under this proposed law, workers who qualify could get up to $250 each month to help cover the cost of medical marijuana, with a maximum limit of $3,000 per year. The reimbursement would apply only to those using marijuana for certified medical reasons, as approved under the state’s medical cannabis program.
Delloso explained that his bill offers an alternative to opioids for people living with chronic pain after a workplace injury. He pointed out that the ongoing opioid crisis has shown how risky those drugs can be and stressed that his proposal aims to protect workers from that threat.
The representative added that this law would require medical cannabis to be approved by the state’s Department of Health and prescribed under the existing medical marijuana framework. He further argued that the change would not only help workers manage their pain more safely but also ease the emotional and financial burden on their families.
So far, six Democratic lawmakers have signed on as early backers. The bill was sent to the House Labor and Industry Committee for review earlier this week.
Delloso has also been active in efforts to legalize recreational cannabis in the state. His most recent proposal would set up a system where the state controls cannabis sales. However, a similar plan passed in the House was rejected in the Republican-led Senate.
While that broader legalization bill still has a chance to gain traction, some state Democrats are now encouraging voters to put pressure on senators to approve it. They argue that regulating cannabis would boost public safety and create significant revenue for the state.
Although some Republican lawmakers are warming up to the idea, Senate leaders like Joe Pittman have shown little interest. Still, there are signs of change. Senator Dan Laughlin, who partnered with Democrat Sharif Street on a legalization effort, noted that more people now support cannabis reform over raising taxes to fix budget issues.
A recent survey found that most Pennsylvanians would prefer marijuana to be sold by private businesses instead of through government-run stores.
If efforts to have employers reimburse workers who need medical marijuana after workplace accidents succeed, the change will be applauded by the wider marijuana movement, including major companies like Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) operating in other states.
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