The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA) upholding a compensation judge’s order requiring Employer to reimburse Employee for medical cannabis, holding that the WCCA erred.

Employee was injured while working for Employer. After multiple rounds of medical intervention proved to be unsuccessful, Employee’s doctor certified her for participation in the state’s medical cannabis program. Employee sought reimbursement for the cost of the cannabis from Employer. Employer asserted in response that the federal prohibition in the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), 21 U.S.C. 801-971, on the possession of cannabis preempted the requirement under Minnesota law that an employer pay for an injured employee’s medical treatment when that treatment is medical cannabis. The WCCA declined to address the preemption argument and upheld the compensation judge’s order. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the WCCA lacked subject matter jurisdiction to determine the preemption issue; and (2) the CSA preempted the compensation court’s order mandating Employer to pay for Employee’s medical cannabis.

Source:  https://law.justia.com/cases/minnesota/supreme-court/2021/a20-1551.html