Washington House Passes Bill To Let Terminally Ill Patients Use Medical Cannabis In Hospitals

A bill to allow terminally ill patients in Washington State to use medical
cannabis in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and
hospices was approved by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Shelley Kloba (D), cleared the chamber
in a vote of 89-6 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“This allows for uniformity across hospitals,” Kloba said on the floor
ahead of the vote. “It balances the needs of hospitals for safe storage for
any of the needs that they have, and it balances that with the patient’s
ability to try something maybe outside of standard pharmacological
treatment in order to have the kind of comfort and dignity at the end of
their life that they deserve.”

At a committee hearing on the measure last month, the sponsor said the
legislation “builds on what we have as a decades-long experience with
medical cannabis, in very controlled kind of environment.”

If enacted into law, HB 2152 would mandate that hospitals and other
specified healthcare facilities allow terminally ill patients to use
medical marijuana on the premises beginning on January 1, 2027, subject to
certain rules and restrictions.

“The medical use of cannabis may support improved quality of life for a
qualifying patient…with a terminal condition,” the bill’s text says. “It is
the intent of the legislature to promote dignity and comfort for terminally
ill patients while maintaining the integrity and safety of health care
environments.”

Patients and their caregivers would be responsible for acquiring and
administering medical marijuana, and it would need to be stored securely at
all times in a locked container.

Smoking or vaping of cannabis would be prohibited, so patients would need
to consume it via other methods.

Marijuana could not be shared between patients and visitors, and the right
to use medical cannabis under the bill would not apply to patients who are
in the emergency department.

Healthcare facility officials would need to see a copy of patients’
authorization to use medical cannabis, and they would be required to note
their use of the drug in medical records. They would also need to establish
a formal policy “allowing for the medical use of cannabis” on the premises.

Facilities would also be able to suspend permission to use cannabis under
the bill if a federal agency such as the U.S. Department of Justice or
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes an enforcement action
against such use or “issues a rule or other notification that expressly
prohibits the medical use of cannabis in health care facilities.”

The House Health Care & Wellness Committee adopted an amendment last month
to exempt nursing homes operated by a residential habilitation center from
the requirement to allow the medical use of cannabis, to clarify that the
bill doesn’t apply to patients who haven’t been formally admitted to a
hospital and to specify that patients and their caregivers are responsible
for retrieving the medical cannabis (in addition to their responsibilities
related to acquiring, administering, and removing the medical cannabis).


*— Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug
policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon
supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps,
charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.*


*Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on
Patreon to get access. —*

California and a handful of other states already have laws allowing
terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in healthcare facilities.
Known as “Ryan’s Law,” the legislation is partly inspired by the experience
of Jim Bartell, whose son 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.

“In the invaluable last days as Ryan fought stage 4 pancreatic cancer, I
first-handedly experienced the positive impact medical cannabis had on my
son’s well-being, as opposed to the harsh effects of opiates,” Bartell said
in 2021 when California’s governor signed Ryan’s Law. “Medical cannabis is
an excellent option for relieving pain and suffering in those who are
terminally-ill, but most importantly it serves to provide compassion,
support, and dignity to patients and their families, during their
loved-ones’ final days.”

“Looking at each other, holding Ryan’s hand and telling him how much I
loved him during his final moments would not have been possible without the
medical cannabis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Washington State lawmakers are also considering legislation this
session to legalize the home cultivation of marijuana for personal use by
adults.

Separate legislation would allow short-term rentals like Airbnbs in
Washington State would be able to offer guests complimentary marijuana
prerolls.

Yet another measure would legalize and regulate therapeutic use of the
psychedelic psilocybin.

The post Washington House Passes Bill To Let Terminally Ill Patients Use
Medical Cannabis In Hospitals appeared first on Marijuana Moment.