Workers? Comp Nixes Medical Marijuana for Injured Worker

A worker claimed he needed medical marijuana to treat the pain from his low back injury but workers’ comp refused to pay for it. The medical evidence, including the prescribing physician’s testimony, indicated that the potential health risks of the medical marijuana outweighed it beneficial effects. The so called ‘shatter’ marijuana he initially used was high in THC and posed respiratory hazards, the Alberta tribunal explained. The cannabis oil he then used to avoid the risks of shatter was lower in THC but offered only limited curative value. Result: Coverage denied [Decision No.: 2019-0152, 2019 CanLII 51683 (AB WCAC), June 6, 2019].