Lawmakers in New Jersey took steps this week toward enshrining protections for marijuana companies in the state and individuals on workers compensation prescribed to medical cannabis.
Two bills were passed out of the state Assembly committee on financial institutions on Thursday. One measure would establish protections for insurance companies and employees that do business marijuana-related companies to ensure that they will not be held liable from any state or local government for engaging in such business. The bill would also ensure that no insurer is required to engage in business with a marijuana company.
“As we move forward addressing marijuana as a medicine and holding up industries, we have to put in place, first protections for our residents, but also protections for professional businesses that participate in the industry,” said Democratic Assemblyman and sponsor of the bill Joe Danielsen, as quoted by NJ.com.
The other bill would require “workers’ compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical marijuana under certain circumstances.”