A new refund opportunity has opened up for certain Pennsylvanians—and if you qualify, you could get up to $250 back each month. But here’s the thing: the deadline to take action is fast approaching. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job and uses medical marijuana for treatment, this could really help ease the financial burden.
Let us break it all down for you in the simplest way possible, so you know exactly what to do before the September 22 cutoff.
Who is eligible for the $250 reimbursement checks?
If you are a worker in Pennsylvania who was injured on the job and you are using medical marijuana as part of your treatment, you could qualify for monthly reimbursement of up to $250.
Here is what you need to know:
- You must be registered with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program
- You must be currently using medical marijuana to treat a work-related injury
- Your employer would be required to cover the cost—this is not coming from a state agency or direct government payout
This benefit comes under House Bill 1766, which was introduced recently in the Pennsylvania legislature.
What is House Bill 1766 and why does it matter?
House Bill (HB) 1766 is a new piece of legislation designed to help injured workers cover the out-of-pocket costs of medical marijuana, which can get expensive.
Here are the main highlights of the bill:
- Employers would reimburse workers up to $250 per month
- Workers who are not yet registered can also get back the cost of applying for a medical marijuana ID card, which includes:
- $50 fee for the ID card
- Between $100 and $350 in doctor’s fees (depending on the provider)
- $50 fee for the ID card
The goal is to support workers who are managing chronic pain or other qualifying conditions through medical cannabis instead of relying on traditional, often more harmful, medications.
How to register and meet the deadline
If you want to qualify, you will need to get your medical marijuana ID card before September 22, 2025. That is the key deadline because the Pennsylvania House of Representatives returns from recess that day and may begin debating or changing the bill.
To apply for the ID card:
- Visit the official Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program website
- Complete the registration process
- Schedule an appointment with a state-approved doctor to certify your medical condition
- Pay the required fees
Once you are officially in the system, you can request reimbursement through your employer if the bill is passed.
Is recreational marijuana legal in Pennsylvania?
No, not yet. As of now, only medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania.
Even though there was an effort earlier this year to legalize recreational use through HB 1200, the state Senate Law and Justice Committee voted to pause the bill. They had several concerns:
- They felt the bill was rushed through without enough discussion
- They believed it would hurt access for small businesses and medical dispensaries
- They also said the proposed regulatory model was outdated
So for now, you must have a medical marijuana card to legally use cannabis in Pennsylvania.
Are there other payments going out in Pennsylvania?
Yes. There is another program rolling out soon that could send surprise checks of up to $500 to tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians.
It is called the Money Match program, and it is meant to help people reclaim unclaimed property like:
- Old paychecks
- Forgotten bank accounts
- Insurance refunds
- Utility deposits
- Safety deposit box contents
About 80,000 people will get a letter in September, and about 45 days later, the payments will go out automatically—no forms needed.
According to Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the average claim when people apply directly is $1,000, so if you think you might have forgotten funds somewhere, it may be worth checking.
