The California Division of Workers’ Compensation introduced new treatment guidelines that would prevent cannabis from being prescribed for pain management through the state’s Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule.

The new guidelines, released late last month, align with the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's recent chronic pain recommendations, which prohibit cannabis for use in chronic pain treatment as well as acute and postoperative pain relief.

ACOEM’s stance conflicts with extensive research findings and common medical use of cannabis to alleviate pain in cancer patients and severe chronic condition sufferers. Physicians frequently suggest cannabis as an effective alternative for pain management and nausea reduction while enhancing patients' life quality during chemotherapy. ACOEM’s guidelines reject these applications because of insufficient clinical proof and potential safety risks in the workplace.

According to ACOEM, its research indicates that cannabis offers only minimal effectiveness compared to a placebo in neuropathic pain management and lacks substantial evidence for treating acute or postoperative pain. The guidelines also emphasize concerns about adverse effects, including an increased risk of workplace accidents such as slips, trips, and falls — particularly for workers in safety-sensitive positions such as those operating heavy machinery or working at heights.

Though workplace safety is undeniably a priority, the full exclusion of cannabis from the treatment guidelines raises questions. Should California’s workers’ compensation system rely solely on ACOEM’s prohibitive stance, or should it acknowledge the broader medical consensus that cannabis can provide relief in certain situations where other treatments fail?

The proposed treatment guidelines will potentially impact injured workers seeking alternative pain management options. The DWC will continue to accept public comments on the proposal until March 14 and will hold a public hearing for that same day. This is an opportunity for those affected to voice their perspectives on whether the state’s guidelines should align with emerging medical research or maintain its current position that excludes cannabis from the available treatment options.

This opinion by the California Applicants' Attorneys Association communications team is republished with permission from the CAAA website.