Study links lower comp frequency to medical marijuana laws

A study released earlier this month showed a 6.7% decline in workers compensation claim activity where states have approved medical marijuana.

The authors of the report, Medical Marijuana and Workers’ Compensation Claiming, led by researchers with the Business and Economics Department, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College in Blue Ash, Ohio, and the Department of Economics at Temple University in Philadelphia, studied data from the Annual Social Economic supplement to the U.S. Census’ Current Population Survey between 1989 and 2012, to study the relationship between workers comp and medical marijuana.

Published in Health Economics in February, the study found that, following passage of medical marijuana laws, states saw “modest” decrease in both the “propensity” to claim workers comp and the level of indemnity income in comp.

“These findings suggest that medical marijuana can allow workers to better manage symptoms associated with workplace injuries and illnesses and, in turn, reduce need for (workers compensation).”