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<h2>Pennsylvania House Introduces Bill for Medical Cannabis Reimbursement</h2>
<p>The Pennsylvania House made significant strides toward incorporating medical cannabis into workers' compensation benefits with the introduction of House Bill 1766 on July 28, 2025. This piece of legislation is set to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act of 1915, allowing employers, through their insurance providers, to reimburse employees for medical cannabis expenses. Eligible medical cannabis patients receiving workers' compensation could receive up to $250 monthly, capped at $3,000 annually, for their cannabis purchases. The bill stipulates that any additional costs would be covered by the employees themselves.</p>
<p>This proposed measure also includes reimbursements for medical cannabis card fees and renewal charges, promising a quarterly reimbursement system. Such financial assistance underscores the growing recognition of medical cannabis as a viable pain management solution for injured workers, as laid out in the bill's framework.</p>
<h2>Legislative Support for Cannabis as a Pain Management Alternative</h2>
<p>Representative David Delloso, the primary advocate for House Bill 1766, emphasized the necessity of offering medical cannabis as a pain management alternative to opioids. In his memo promoting the bill, Delloso pointed out the opioid crisis’s devastating impact and positioned medical cannabis as a safer option. By addressing chronic pain without the risk of addiction associated with opioids, the bill promises significant health benefits for injured workers.</p>
<p>For medical cannabis to be reimbursed under this proposed legislation, its use must align with certifications prescribed in the Medical Marijuana Act and authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This approach ensures a structured and legitimate use of medical cannabis within the state's framework for treating chronic pain.</p>
<h2>Broad Support and Potential Impacts</h2>
<p>Titled "An act defining the liability of an employer to pay damages for injuries received by an employee in the course of employment," this bill is supported by a coalition of state representatives, including Carol Hill-Evans, Jeanne McNeill, Tarik Khan, Tarah Probst, Benjamin Sanchez, and Keith Harris. The bill's introduction reflects a broader recognition of the role medical cannabis can play in enhancing the quality of life for those affected by workplace injuries.</p>
<p>Emphasizing its broader societal benefits, Delloso also highlighted the relief this bill could provide not just to workers but their families. With the bill's passage, families could find solace in knowing pain management is possible without the fear of addiction or the burden of spiraling medical expenses related to prescription opioids. The bill will move forward in the legislative process, having been referred to the committee on Labor & Industry on August 4.</p>
<p>#CannabisNews #MedicalCannabis #CannabisLegislation #CBDTrends #HempInnovations</p>
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