Office of the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Photo: Mike Scarcella/ALM

The U.S. Solicitor General's Office on Monday urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to jump into the debate over whether workers' compensation should cover medical marijuana costs.

In a 19-page amicus brief, written at the invitation of the high court, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar noted that while dozens of states in recent years have eased restrictions on marijuana's use and sale for medical reasons, the drug remains illegal under the Controlled Substances Act.