Medical cannabis bill includes comp provisions

The use of cannabis would not be a reason to deny compensation for workplace injuries in some circumstances, under a bill moving through the Kansas Legislature this week.

S.B. 158, of which hearings are taking place, would also explicitly exempt workers compensation from having to pay for the drug.

Kansas law already declares employers are not liable when the use of alcohol or drugs contributes to a workplace injury. The bill would declare that compensation “shall not be denied” in the case of a worker who is a registered medical cannabis patient, was using the drug in accordance with the proposed law “and there has been no prior incidence of the employee’s impairment on the job as a result of the use of such cannabis or cannabis derivative within the previous 24 months.”

The proposed language mirrors a current statute that prohibits denying claims caused by the use of prescription drugs.

The Senate Committee on Interstate Cooperation heard testimony from bill proponents Tuesday and is taking testimony from opponents at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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