04/14/21
Jon L. Gelman
The NJ Supreme has recognized that the workers compensation system has a legislative mandate to provide the safest medical care to cure and relieve occupational injuries. The Court acknowledged both state and Federal trends to provide non-addictive and non-fatal pain relief in place of the dangerous opioids.
The intent that embraced the creation and development of the social insurance system has given the Court a rational and logical basis, consistent with public policy, to order medical marijuana for palliative care.
The syllabus prepared by the Office of Clerk is as follows:
In this appeal the Court considers the challenges brought by defendant M&K Construction (M&K) with regard to a workers compensation court s order (the Order) that M&K reimburse plaintiff Vincent Hager for the ongoing costs of the medical marijuana he was prescribed after sustaining a work-related injury while employed by M&K. Specifically, M&K contends that New Jersey s Jake Honi