Lawmakers In Multiple States Push To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospitals By Qualifying Patients

As 2026 brings a new wave of marijuana reform bills to state legislatures
across the U.S., a theme has emerged in one specific policy area: Lawmakers
are pushing to allow seriously ill patients to access medical cannabis in
hospital settings, with at least 13 states exploring the reform this year.

Variations of what’s become known as “Ryan’s Law”—named after a young
California medical cannabis patient who passed and whose father has since
become an advocate for marijuana access in hospitals—have been introduced
in legislatures everywhere from New York to Hawaii this session.

Led by the Ryan’s Law Foundation and backed by top reform groups including
NORML, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and the Cannabis Nurses Network,
activists hope to see the law widely enacted to ensure that patients,
particularly those with terminal illnesses, are able to legally utilize
cannabis.

California and Minnesota have already moved forward with the policy change.

“So often in cannabis policy reform, advocates present logical,
evidence-based recommendations that take years for legislators to fully
embrace,” Kevin Caldwell, Southeast legislative manager for the Marijuana
Policy Project (MPP), told Marijuana Moment.

“For cannabis advocates who have lobbied for increased access to cannabis
products in medical facilities, the push for ‘Ryan’s Law,’ which grants
medical facility access to cannabis for terminally ill patients, is a
perfect example of this delay,” he said. “The fact that people have to
suffer or live in a pharmaceutical haze, rather than have access to a
medicine that many know will improve their quality of life, is
heartbreaking.”

“However, by amplifying the story of Ryan’s family, led by his father’s own
advocacy, we ensure their tragedy serves a greater purpose: ensuring no
other family endures the same fate,” Caldwell said.

*Here are the states where “Ryan’s Law” bills have been introduced so far
this session:*
Arizona

The bill from Arizona Rep. Selina Bliss (D) would amend current state law
by adding hospitals to the list of medical facilities where qualifying
patients could utilize medical cannabis. It states that hospitals “shall
allow a registered qualifying patient who has a terminal illness to use
medical marijuana in the area designated by the facility.” The bill has
been referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Colorado

Colorado Sen. Kyle Mullica (D) and Rep. Sheila Lieder (D) filed legislation
this session mandating that “a health facility allow patients who are
terminally ill and who are registered in the state’s medical marijuana
program to use medical marijuana within the health facility, subject to
certain parameters.” The legislation has been referred to the Senate Health
& Human Services Committee for consideration.
Delaware

In Delaware, Sen. Marie Pinkney (D) introduced a version of a “Ryan’s Law”
bill, which has been referred to the Senate Health & Social Services
Committee. The legislation “provides that health care facilities must
permit patients who have been issued and possess a valid registry
identification card for the medical use of marijuana and have a terminal
illness to use medical marijuana on the health care facilities’ premises,
subject to certain restrictions.”
Hawaii

Hawaii Rep. Gregg Takayama (D) and Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D) have filed
companion bills for the session that would allow qualifying patients who
are 65 or older to access medical marijuana in hospital settings, subject
to regulations by the state Department of Health. The House version has
three committee referrals; the Senate measure has been referred to two
panels.
Mississippi

In Mississippi, Rep. Kevin Felsher (R) is sponsoring HB 1034 to “support
the ability of terminally ill qualifying patients to safely use medical
cannabis within specified health care facilities,” requiring hospitals,
nursing facilities and hospice centers to “allow terminally ill qualifying
patients in the facility to use medical cannabis.” The legislation has been
approved by the House Public Health and Human Services Committee.
New Mexico

New Mexico Pamelya Herndon (D) filed a bill to allow qualified patients to
use medical cannabis by means other than smoking or vaping in hospitals,
outpatient facilities, diagnostic and treatment centers, rehabilitation
centers and freestanding hospices. Unlike the similar proposals in most
other states, this one has no requirement that patients be terminally ill.
New York

New York Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D) is championing a “Ryan’s Law” bill
to authorize “certain patients who are terminally ill to use medical
cannabis at hospitals and nursing homes.” The proposal is before the
Assembly Health Committee.
Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader Carri Hicks (D) is
sponsoring SB 1508 to let qualified medical marijuana patients facing
terminal illnesses to access cannabis products that can’t be smoked or
vaporized at hospitals. It has been referred to the Health and Human
Services Committee.
Oregon

Rep. Thủy Trần (D) and cosponsors introduced legislation requiring certain
healthcare organizations and residential facilities to allow patients to
use medical cannabis on the premises. It has been referred to the House
Health Care Committee.
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Sen. John Kane (D) is sponsoring a bill to allow qualifying
patients to access medical marijuana in hospital settings. “Ryan’s law
would allow terminally ill patients to use non-smoking forms of medical
marijuana in Pennsylvania hospitals,” the author said in a cosponsorship
memo. “Right now, the use of medical marijuana in hospitals is a gray area
due to marijuana being a Scheduled I Narcotic, while also being legal for
medicinal purposes in Pennsylvania.” Rep. Dan Frankel (D) is currently
seeking cosponsors for a version of the legislation he plans to file in the
House.
South Dakota

South Dakota Rep. Eric Emery (D) introduced a bill for the 2026 session to allow
terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and hospices.
The House Health and Human Services Committee voted this month to defer the
legislation, but it’s possible it could be revived.
Virginia

There are two House bills and one Senate proposal to replicate Ryan’s Law
in Virginia this session. HB 75 from Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra (D), HB 486
from Del. Irene Shin (D) and SB 332 from Sen. Barbara Favola (D) would each allow
terminally ill patients to access medical marijuana in hospitals.
Washington State

Washington State Rep. Shelley Kloba (D) and Senate Majority Floor Leader
Marcus Riccelli (D) are sponsoring companion versions of their “Ryan’s Law”
bills this session. The proposals reflect the legislature’s position that
“the medical use of cannabis may support improved quality of life for a
qualifying patient,” the text says, and the proposed reform would “promote
dignity and comfort for terminally ill patients while maintaining the
integrity and safety of health care environments” by allowing them to
access medical marijuana in hospitals.


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It remains to be seen whether any of the states with pending proposals will
move to enact them into law this session, similar to policies that are on
the booka in California and Minnesota.

The stepped-up push for reform is aided by a robust group of advocates—as
well as a team of student interns that the Ryan’s Law Foundation is
coordinating at San Diego State University (SDSU) who are proactively
reaching out to lawmakers on committees of jurisdiction in legislatures
across the country.

That group is led by Jim Bartell, whose son Ryan died from cancer and was
initially denied access to cannabis at a California hospital. The Bartells
did eventually find a facility that agreed to allow the treatment, and Jim
said Ryan’s quality of life improved dramatically in his final days as a
result.

Jim told Marijuana Moment this month that President Donald Trump’s recent
executive order directing officials to quickly complete the process of
federal rescheduling cannabis is “helping a lot” with the push to get
lawmakers on board with enacting the hospital-focused medical marijuana
access reform.

He said legislators used to ask, “What about Schedule I?” when approached
about the issue.

“Well, that’s gone now,” Bartell said, even as rescheduling has not yet
been formally completed.

MPP’s Caldwell said that in light of the pending finalization of moving
cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act,
“now is the perfect time for healthcare systems to adopt a more humane,
patient-centered approach to end-of-life care.”

“Many patients could potentially benefit from a cannabis regimen over
prescription medications that truly do not allow them to be present for
themselves and their loved ones,” he said.

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In Hospitals By Qualifying Patients appeared first on Marijuana Moment.