Still in the Weeds with Medical Marijuana and Workers' Compensation, with Kiersten Cash

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Kiersten Cash regarding the May 6th RISKWORLD session that she is co-presenting with Frank Wickersham, a Workers' Comp defense attorney, "Reefer Madness: Still in the Weeds with Medical Marijuana and Workers' Compensation Insurance, Legal, and Regulatory." Kiersten shares the biggest misconception risk professionals have about medical marijuana in Workers' Comp. She discusses the conversation around cannabis and workplace injury. Justin and Kiersten talk about the growing patchwork of state laws on cannabis and what risk managers should be paying close attention to right now. Kiersten explains the concerns about Workers' Comp paying for medical marijuana. She gives a preview of what to expect in her RISKWORLD session. Listen for insights about the problems of marijuana as a treatment option in Workers' Comp.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:14] Public registration is open for RISKWORLD 2026, which will be held from May 3rd through 6th in Philadelphia. Visit RIMS.org/RISKWORLD to register. [:27] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is Kiersten Cash. She is the Senior Manager for Workers' Compensation and General Liability at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She's going to talk to us all about medical marijuana and Workers' Compensation Claims. But first… [:58] RIMS Virtual Workshops. The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Course will be on April 21st and 22nd, and then again on June 9th and 10th. Registration links are in this episode's notes. [1:14] On April 15th, we have a virtual workshop covering "Emerging Risks", led by Joseph Mayo. Register today and strengthen your risk knowledge. RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:29] Webinars. On April 16th, Zurich and World Travel Protection will present "Navigating the New Global Risk Landscape: Lessons for Business Travelers in Unstable Times". Register for webinars at RIMS.org/webinars and through the links in this episode's show notes. [1:47] Folks, for more RIMS content, head over to YouTube and subscribe to @RIMSOfficialChannel. There you will find video podcasts, RIMScast Canada video podcasts, and other informative and entertaining content from RIMS. [2:02] Head over to RMMagazine.com for the Q1 Edition of the Azbee-Award-winning publication, RIMS Risk Management Magazine. [2:15] On with the Show! Our guest today is the Senior Manager for Workers' Compensation and General Liability at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Kiersten J. Cash. She's here to discuss what's going on with medical marijuana and Workers' Compensation claims. [2:31] This will serve as a bit of a preview of her session at RISKWORLD on May 6th at 10:15 a.m. in Room 120-BC, "Reefer Madness: Still in the Weeds with Medical Marijuana and Workers' Compensation." [2:43] We will discuss whether cannabis is still an effective treatment for chronic pain due to workplace injury and what could happen if the U.S. Government were to change its schedule from number 1 to number 3. [2:54] We're going to learn about Kiersten's fascinating work and her career. Let's get to it! [3:00] Interview! Kiersten Cash, MBA, welcome to RIMScast! [3:23] Kiersten is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, or CHOP. Kiersten Cash has a session at RISKWORLD, "Reefer Madness." [4:27] Kiersten has been in the world of Workers' Comp for a little over 20 years. She started as an adjuster. She adjusted national market claims and middle market claims for 10 years. Then she went to the broker side. [4:46] She managed the claim program for the broker's largest client at the time, along with 23 other claim programs, covering all lines of insurance. Next, Kiersten worked for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, a residential treatment facility. [5:06] Then Kiersten moved to CHOP, where she manages all of Workers' Comp, General Liability, and Auto for the health system. [5:22] Kiersten says Workers' Comp is one of those industries where you kind of fall into it. In the final year of her graduat