The interplay between medical cannabis and workers' compensation in Florida presents a unique and evolving legal landscape. As medical cannabis gains acceptance for its therapeutic benefits, its role within the realms of employment and workers' compensation becomes increasingly significant. In Florida, where medical cannabis is legal, the question arises: Does workers' compensation insurance cover medical cannabis expenses for work-related injuries or illnesses?

Personal injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. Whether you've been in a car accident, suffered a slip-and-fall, or experienced medical malpractice, the aftermath of a personal injury can leave you with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and long-term consequences.

Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that extends benefits to full-time workers who have been injured while on the job. It compensates them for medical expenses and wage loss while remaining out of work.

Workers’ compensation coverage can help injured workers who are dealing with medical expenses, lost wages, ongoing treatment, and more. The coverage may also include the ambulance ride, medication, and physical therapy. When a work injury occurs, it’s time to determine whether you have workers’ compensation coverage.

One of the most perplexing aspects of the Florida Workers’ Compensation law is the lack of resources or solutions for workers when they have a career-altering injury. When an injured worker has completed their medical treatment but is still physically unable to return to their employment before the injury, the system has very little options for that worker. 

The workers’ compensation community accepts and expects that injured workers in the state of Florida do not get to choose which doctors will treat them for their on-the-job injuries. However, when someone gets injured on the job, they are often frustrated by their lack of choice over who is going to treat them for their injuries. 

It is important to have medical proof for an injury to ensure that you receive your rightful damages for that injury to help cover the cost of missed work, medical expenses, and associated recovery. Medical proof can point to who is at fault. With differing levels of severity, it’s important to have medical records to back up your verbal explanation of your injuries.

Workers’ compensation in Florida provides two categories of benefits: Indemnity and medical. Within the medical benefit category, injured workers are governed by the limitations set forth in Florida Statute 440.