Bill prohibiting comp payments for marijuana moves forward

North Dakota’s House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of a law that would prohibit coverage for medical marijuana under the state’s workers compensation system.

House Bill 1156, introduced by Republican state Rep. George Keiser and Republican state Sen. Jerry Klein, passed the North Dakota House in an 81-9 vote on Monday, according to the North Dakota legislature website. The bill heads to the state Senate next.

The bill was introduced on Jan 3, two months after voters in North Dakota approved the use of medical cannabis.

The proposed law would amend the state’s workers comp code to include medical marijuana among items that employers insured by North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance are not permitted to cover under workers comp claims. It also would prohibit payments related to wage loss if an injury is connected to the use of medical marijuana. 

North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance is the state’s monopoly workers comp insurer