Medical marijuana bills go to floor of state House

Bills in the state House would let insurance companies deny coverage for medical marijuana.

Employers could also refuse to reimburse medical marijuana expenses through workers compensation.

Opponents of the legislation say it discriminates against a legal form of patient care.

Republican state Senator Rick Jones said many opponents of the bills simply want to abuse the system.

“They felt medical marijuana should be given for everything. They were actually claiming that medical marijuana will cure cancer and cure almost any disease. Some of the testimony was simply bizarre,” said Jones.

Some medical marijuana advocates support the measures. They say when voters approved medical marijuana in the state, they never meant to force insurers to cover the drug.

The bills easily passed the state Senate in May.