Greetings,

• The Dept. of Financial Services released the FL WC maximum compensation rate effective 1/1/21, its $1,011.  This is for dates of accident after January 1.  Also, a reminder that base PTD benefits plus PTD supplements cannot exceed the max CR for the year that it is paid.  Memo attached on the new max CR.
• On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 228 to 164 to decriminalize marijuana at the Federal level.  This bill would have to be voted on by the U.S. Senate, and then signed into law by the President before becoming “law”, per Schoolhouse Rock. So far, 33 states have allowed medical use of marijuana and 11 have approved recreational use plus Washington D.C. on both.  The Florida Medical Marijuana law expressly states we don’t need to provide it or reimburse under WC.   Also, the position most in FL are taking is that even under a doctor’s orders, marijuana still would create an intoxication defense.

If eventually the Federal government changes its stance on marijuana, it may ultimately change Florida’s position as well.  For now, it remains a Schedule 1 drug with no permissible medical use per Federal law.  And this  change remains just a bill… sitting on Capital Hill….

Sincerely,

Morgan A. Indek | Managing Partner