Bill Proposes First Law Mandating Cannabis Reimbursement

Legislation introduced last week would make Hawaii the first state in the country to require by law workers’ compensation coverage for medical cannabis. Although courts in five states have ordered employers to pay for marijuana used in treating people injured at work, no state has codified such a ruling in statute. That would change under Hawaii House Bill 1534, by Rep. Dee Morikawa, D-Nihau, and an identical companion measure, Senate Bill 1523, by Sen. Rosalyn Baker, D-Maui, which were introduced Thursday. Neither of the bills have been scheduled for a hearing. The bills would amend ...