An interesting verdict has emerged from a Pennsylvania state appeals court, as employment and personal injury law firm Schmidt Kirifides and Rassias PC has been required to cover the cost of cannabidiol oil (CBD) used by one of its attorneys to alleviate back pain acquired from a work injury. The substance, even though it carries a federally illegal status, was deemed a “medical supply” by the court.
The intriguing part of this ruling is the classification of CBD oil as a “medical supply”, despite its legal ambiguity at a federal level. This decision could potentially influence how such substances are categorized and funded in workplace injury scenarios moving forward.
Unfortunately, due to the polarized views held by the judges on this matter, this ruling does not clearly set a trend for future cases, nor does it provide definitive commentary on the legal considerations for federally proscribed substances in the context of work-related injury compensation. The complex interplay between federal and state law, as evidenced in this case, adds another shade of gray to an already convoluted issue.
For further reference, readers can review the details of the case via the original report on the Law360 website.