The New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee approved legislation Oct. 26 that would require workers’ compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance benefits to cover medical cannabis in certain situations, according to an NJ.com report.
A1708 was approved by the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions earlier this year, and advanced out of the Appropriations Committee Monday in a 7-4 vote, the news outlet reported.
Under the legislation, a patient enrolled in New Jersey’s medical cannabis program could have their costs covered unless the federal government steps in to enforce prohibition, according to NJ.com.
Earlier this year, an appeals court ruled that a New Jersey company must cover an employee’s medical cannabis costs, setting a precedent for workers’ compensation to cover medical cannabis costs in the state.
A1708 must pass the full Assembly, as well as the Senate, which has not yet taken up the legislation, before it can go to Gov. Phil Murphy.
