Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C. have legalized medical cannabis. In these jurisdictions, cannabis is a legitimate treatment option for qualifying patients who have been certified by a licensed medical provider to use this medicine. However, despite legal recognition and medical oversight, medical cannabis use is still stigmatized. Medical cannabis patients are often subject to harmful discrimination that can impact their employment opportunities, housing options, educational opportunities, and other vital aspects of their lives. States are beginning to recognize that this discrimination is a serious public health challenge that requires legal intervention to address its harmful effects. This webinar will present legal research exploring the various statutory protections for medical cannabis patients. It will also present research on the treatment of medical cannabis within state workers’ compensation programs and the developing trend of providing parity with FDA approved medications.
By attending this webinar, you will:
Understand that discrimination against medical cannabis patients is a public health problem that undermines access to health care and creates negative health outcomes.
Learn about the variety of state legislative protections provided to medical cannabis patients to mitigate discrimination in a variety of essential areas including employment, education, healthcare, housing, and child custody and visitation.
Understand how medical cannabis is treated by state workers’ compensation programs.
Moderator:
– Mathew Swinburne, JD, Associate Director, Network for Public Health Law – Eastern Region Office
Presenters:
– Alexandra LaFree, JD Candidate 2021, University of Maryland Carey School of Law
– Edka Wong, JD Candidate 2021, University of Maryland Carey School of Law
