Medical Marijuana Advantages Incorporated into Employee Benefits Package in New Jersey
Three local jurisdictions in New Jersey have taken unprecedented steps by incorporating medical marijuana advantages into the benefits package for their municipal employees. This introduction of cannabis-related health benefits presents a novel development in the realm of employee wellness, with public workers gaining access to reduced-price medical cannabis at select dispensaries as well as tailored telehealth services.
Innovative Partnership with Bennabis Health
In an innovative partnership, Trenton and the educational boards of both Orange and Teaneck are collaborating with Bennabis Health. Through this alliance, public workers who qualify will be afforded at least a 15 percent reduction on medical marijuana costs, thereby enjoying savings beyond what regular customers might receive.
US Pioneering Cannabis Health Benefits for Workers
This groundbreaking initiative places the United States at the cutting edge of weaving medicinal cannabis into conventional health benefits for workers. With ongoing negotiations with additional municipal governments to broaden the scope of benefits, Bennabis Health is pioneering this endeavor. Co-founder and president Don Parisi has emphasized the significance of Trenton’s actions, signifying an unparalleled event in the nation’s history where a non-cannabis industry employer is providing cannabis benefits.
A Step Towards Alternative Therapies
Endorsement for this progressive step has come from multiple quarters, including advocacy entities like Americans for Safe Access. Its president Steph Sherer likened such initiatives to those covering alternative therapies, applauding the application of this approach to cannabis.
Implementation Through Strategic Partnerships
Efficient implementation of the program banks on strategic partnerships with entities such as Aetna, Broadreach Medical Resources, and Leafwell. These alliances are integral to the process, aiding in the distribution of medical marijuana cards and ensuring that employees are well-informed about the implementation of these health benefits.
Expanding Beyond New Jersey
The movement is picking up steam beyond New Jersey’s borders. Expanding into Maine, Bennabis Health has joined forces with two dispensary entities, Sweet Dirt Dispensaries and Brilliant Buds, to provide a similar 15 percent markdown to Bennabis Health Premium members. Prioritizing product excellence, Bennabis Health assures that all offerings are subject to rigorous quality assessment, despite the lack of mandatory independent lab tests for medical cannabis in Maine.
Nationwide Presence and Collaboration
With eyes set on a national presence, Bennabis Health aspires to insert itself in every state that accommodates medical marijuana use. Their marketing strategist, Cynthia Tantum, has extended an invitation for collaboration to dispensaries nationwide, hinting at a future where such employee health benefits could be a staple in workplaces across the country.
The adoption of these medical marijuana benefits for public workers in New Jersey Municipalities not only elevates the accessibility and affordability of medical cannabis for government employees but also lays down an exemplary framework that other regions may follow, potentially transforming the healthcare benefits domain and the nation’s attitude towards medicinal cannabis.
