Pain management and addiction have been a top concern for employers and workers since the opioid epidemic began 20 years ago, and medical marijuana has often been touted as a safer — though controversial — alternative.

This year, some lawmakers in Pennsylvania tried to push legislation that would have required employers to reimburse injured workers up to $250 per month for cannabis.

The story about the bill was the most-read workers compensation-related story on Business Insurance’s website in 2025.

H.B. 1766 was introduced in August and sent to the Labor Committee, where it failed to gain traction. Under the bill, workers requesting reimbursement would have to be registered with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program.

Other states also reviewed cannabis-related legislation. Massachusetts lawmakers considered a bill that would amend state law to require workers compensation insurers to cover medical marijuana.

H. 2169, introduced in February, stated that “reasonable and necessary service costs may include reimbursement for medical cannabis provided to injured employees who are qualifying patients, or their personal caregiver, certified by a healthcare professional.” The bill didn’t progress.

The California Department of Industrial Relations used national guidelines on how medical marijuana treats pain to incorporate the findings in the state’s evidence-based treatment guidelines for injured workers.

The department released details from a January published report by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine that did not recommend cannabis for chronic pain, acute pain and post-operative pain, citing a lack of evidence. The report also did not recommend medical marijuana for “safety-critical workers.”

Those changes have been adopted, according to the department’s website.

No. 2 most-read story.