In a groundbreaking move for public workers, three New Jersey municipalities are introducing medical marijuana coverage as a healthcare benefit.
Employees in the city of Trenton, as well as the boards of education in Orange and Teaneck, will gain access to discounts at participating dispensaries and cannabis-related telehealth services. The program is facilitated by Bennabis Health, a company specializing in cannabis-related employee benefits.
Workers participating in the program will reportedly receive at least 15% off the typical costs associated with medical marijuana. Bennabis Health has also expanded its reach beyond New Jersey, partnering with dispensaries in Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., and, most recently, Maine. In Maine, the company announced new agreements with Sweet Dirt Dispensaries and Brilliant Buds, which will offer Bennabis Health Premium members a 15% discount.
Bennabis co-founder and president Don Parisi described the Trenton program as a historic milestone. “To our knowledge, it is the first time in U.S. history that an employer not already in the cannabis industry is offering cannabis as an employee benefit,” Parisi said. “This is not only a local milestone, it is likely a first in national history.”
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora expressed support for the initiative, stating that it makes treatment more accessible and aligns with evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana.
The program also involves partnerships with Aetna, Broadreach Medical Resources, and Leafwell, a company that assists patients in obtaining medical marijuana cards.
