Washington, DC—Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for advancing legislation yesterday that bars workers’ compensation funds from being used to purchase marijuana products. In a March ruling (Peña Garcia v. Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs), the Second Circuit established that marijuana’s Schedule I status prohibits injured employees from using workers’ compensation money to buy marijuana. New language in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill ensures that no changes to this rule would occur under a Schedule III regime. Further, the bill report includes language directing the CDC to gather information on the rise of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) among youth, a severe condition tied to high-potency marijuana use.
“From preventing workers from using federal dollars to buy harmful marijuana products to obtaining more data on the oft-fatal Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), we applaud the House Appropriations Committee for backing evidence-based drug policy,” said SAM CEO Dr. Kevin Sabet. “Marijuana has never been approved by the FDA as a safe and effective medicine, and no one recovering from a workplace injury should be steered toward an addictive, high-THC product instead of treatments backed by real science. This language makes clear that rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III does not obligate employers, insurers, or taxpayers to bankroll its purchase. We thank Committee Chair Tom Cole and Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt for their leadership and urge the full House to preserve these provisions.”
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