Christine Green
New Member
Columbus, Ohio - For years, police officers have lobbied the General Assembly to recognize post-traumatic stress disorder exists without an accompanying injury.
Earlier this month, they did -- but not in the way the state's largest law enforcement organization would have liked.
PTSD was among more than 20 medical conditions that would qualify someone to use medical marijuana under a bill moving quickly through the Statehouse. The House overwhelmingly approved House Bill 523, which is now being revised and debated in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 5, which would allow police officers, firefighters and other first responders diagnosed with PTSD eligible for workers' compensation and benefits, even if the diagnosis wasn't the result of a bodily injury. Similar bills have passed the Senate at least three times but died in the House.
Fraternal Order of Police President Jay McDonald said lawmakers should put that language in the medical marijuana bill, which is fast-tracked for passage before lawmakers leave town for summer break.
"If PTSD is going to be recognized as a legitimate ailment to the point we need to have people prescribed marijuana for it, then the legislature should recognize it as the work-related injury it is," McDonald said.
House Bill 523 does not allow workers fired for medical marijuana use under an employer's drug-free workplace policy to collect workers compensation or unemployment benefits. McDonald said that won't be an issue for first responders, who wouldn't use medical marijuana anyway.
Even with the first responder PTSD language added, McDonald said the FOP can't support the medical marijuana bill because the national FOP opposes marijuana legalization.
"We think this bill is probably going to happen so our interest is to make it as well crafted in terms of public safety as it can be," McDonald said. "Not everything in the bill are things we like but it's certainly better than the ballot initiative from last year."
The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio says if state lawmakers want to allow people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to use medical marijuana, they should allow police officers and other emergency personnel diagnosed with PTSD to receive workers' compensation benefits.
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawmakers OK with Medical Marijuana for PTSD Should Include Condition for Workers
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Jackie Borchardt
Photo Credit: David Zalubowski, Associated Press
Website: Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - cleveland.com
Earlier this month, they did -- but not in the way the state's largest law enforcement organization would have liked.
PTSD was among more than 20 medical conditions that would qualify someone to use medical marijuana under a bill moving quickly through the Statehouse. The House overwhelmingly approved House Bill 523, which is now being revised and debated in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 5, which would allow police officers, firefighters and other first responders diagnosed with PTSD eligible for workers' compensation and benefits, even if the diagnosis wasn't the result of a bodily injury. Similar bills have passed the Senate at least three times but died in the House.
Fraternal Order of Police President Jay McDonald said lawmakers should put that language in the medical marijuana bill, which is fast-tracked for passage before lawmakers leave town for summer break.
"If PTSD is going to be recognized as a legitimate ailment to the point we need to have people prescribed marijuana for it, then the legislature should recognize it as the work-related injury it is," McDonald said.
House Bill 523 does not allow workers fired for medical marijuana use under an employer's drug-free workplace policy to collect workers compensation or unemployment benefits. McDonald said that won't be an issue for first responders, who wouldn't use medical marijuana anyway.
Even with the first responder PTSD language added, McDonald said the FOP can't support the medical marijuana bill because the national FOP opposes marijuana legalization.
"We think this bill is probably going to happen so our interest is to make it as well crafted in terms of public safety as it can be," McDonald said. "Not everything in the bill are things we like but it's certainly better than the ballot initiative from last year."
The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio says if state lawmakers want to allow people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to use medical marijuana, they should allow police officers and other emergency personnel diagnosed with PTSD to receive workers' compensation benefits.
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawmakers OK with Medical Marijuana for PTSD Should Include Condition for Workers
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Jackie Borchardt
Photo Credit: David Zalubowski, Associated Press
Website: Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - cleveland.com
