A Brief History on 420 and Workers’ Compensation

What is “420” and What’s it Got to Do with Workers’ Compensation?

Dating back to the early 1970s, use of the term “420” in relation to Marijuana use is said to have started with a group of Northern California high school kids. To rally their like-minded classmates, they used the term “420” as a stealth code intended to draw the group together behind the school wall at 4:20pm, to smoke what was then an illicit substance.

Fast forward 50 years, and in spite of the range of alternative names: – Cannabis, Weed, Marijuana etc., the term “420” is universally synonymous with smoking “Pot”.

And…use of the drug is now legally sanctioned for medicinal as well as recreational use.

What does this mean for workers’ compensation claims though?

There are specific requirements for successful defense of a workers’ compensation claim where the employee’s injuries are alleged to have occurred because he/she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is commonly known as “The Intoxication Defense”. 

Join the 4/20 Webinar to Learn More!

IEA and workers’ compensation expert Bob Cornelow, will present a one-hour webinar titled: Still Stoned on Monday – The Intoxication Defense in Workers’ Compensation,  to review affirmative defenses in LC 3600, analyze several court decisions identifying how the requirements are carried out, and talk about what it all means for employers. 

April 20th, 2022
11:30am-12:30pm
Offered for only $24!
CE Credit for SHRM, HRCI, CPDM, CCMP, CA-WC-Cert and MCLE

ABOUT IEA

IEA creates and delivers professional development and continuing education in workers’ compensation, disability management and risk management. With more than 150 years in service, it provides a range of courses, webinars, and on-demand training to help insurance professionals meet their career development goals. Learn more at www.ieatraining.org