New Jersey Lawmakers Approve Bill Providing Medical Marijuana Patient Insurance Benefits

Employment insurance benefits would be extended to cover the costs of medical marijuana for registered patients in New Jersey under a bill that cleared an Assembly committee on Monday.

While medical cannabis has been legal in New Jersey since 2010, nothing in current state statute currently stipulates that costs associated with the medication must be covered via workers’ compensation or personal injury protection (PIP). That would change under legislation sponsored by Assemblymembers John Burzichelli (D), Herb Conaway (D) and Joann Downey (D).

“Many workers’ compensation insurance companies and PIPs are still hesitant to cover medical cannabis or have an outright policy of denying it,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “People injured and receiving coverage through PIP or worker’s comp can come away from a doctor’s appointment with a prescription for medical marijuana; however, it is not definite that their healthcare plan will cover it or reimburse them for the costs.”