Stew Baskin

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How Medical Cannabis Impacts Workers in Florida

Stew Baskin, CEO, CannaPlan

This presentation will  take a look at worker comp data in Florida, using both historical and updated 2024 data from the Division of Workers’ Compensation. By analyzing publicly available reports, I’ve found that workplace trends in Florida align with what’s been observed nationally. Here are some highlights:    Lower Workers’ Compensation Costs: After medical cannabis was legalized, Florida reversed rising workers’ compensation costs and cut prescription opioid expenses by over 50%.  Increased Workforce Participation: Older workers (65+) are reentering the workforce, likely due to reduced reliance on opioids. Data from FLHealthCharts supports this connection.  In mid-January, Florida will release its 2024 data. I’ll incorporate these updates into my analysis to provide fresh insights into workers’ compensation claims, opioid use, and workplace safety trends in the state.    This Prezi presentation will offer practical takeaways, demonstrating how medical cannabis has positively influenced workplace safety and costs in Florida.

Stew is the CEO of CannaPlan, a pioneering medical cannabis employee benefit program, and a passionate advocate for patients' rights in the medical cannabis space. With a strong foundation in engineering and project management, Stew spent six years in Houston, Texas, where he developed cutting-edge sensor technologies and successfully launched a startup in the oil and gas sector.    Since returning to Florida in 2020, Stew has focused on transforming workplace health benefits by introducing medical cannabis as a cost-effective and safer alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. His mission is to empower employers and improve the well-being of Floridians by integrating medical cannabis into employee healthcare programs.