A local branch of the Canadian construction union Labourers’ International Union of North America (Liuna) is introducing medicinal marijuana coverage into its benefits plan.
The benefit is being introduced by Liuna!625, the union's Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent branch, which represents 1,500 members and their families.
The new benefit, which has been designed to support members’ health and wellbeing, will cover select, naturally-grown, pharmagrade medicinal cannabis products.
Members and their families will also have access to counselling, guidance, and prescription services during treatment.
Rob Petroni, business manager at Liuna!625, said: “We’ve been working diligently on this initiative with key partners for several months. Offering medicinal cannabis as a prescription reimbursement underscores our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our 1,500 members and their families.
“Communities across North America are struggling with over-prescribed painkillers in excessively high doses that has [led] to the opioid crisis. Our priority at Liuna is health and safety, on and off the job site. Being at the forefront of medicinal cannabis care will minimise the health risks to our members and reinforce the organisation’s responsibility to provide well-trained, highly-skilled construction craft workers.”
Cannabis for medical purposes is legal in Canada.
