Request for Coverage of Medical Marijuana Was Properly Denied

Due to a workplace incident, a worker suffered chronic back pain. His doctor prescribed medical marijuana for this pain. The worker filed a workers’ comp claim for coverage of the medical marijuana costs, which was denied. He said the medical marijuana helped with his pain and let him cut back on taking other painkillers. But the Appeals Tribunal denied his appeal. The worker had surgery on his back after he was prescribed medical marijuana and the surgery improved his condition and symptoms. In fact, his surgeon did not prescribe medical marijuana. Thus, his request for funding for medical marijuana was properly denied [20157550 (Re), [2015] CanLII 4929 (NB WHSCC), Jan. 22, 2015].