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Lawmakers across the country are weighing new protections that would allow seriously ill patients to use medical cannabis inside hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. The proposals share a common foundation in Ryan’s Law, the California statute named for a young patient whose end‑of‑life experience helped inspire a national push to ensure that terminally ill patients have the option to use medical cannabis when they enter a facility.
Activists across the country are working to bring Ryan’s law to more states, with Minnesota already following California’s lead. Bills are advancing in Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, while a similar effort in Mississippi has hit resistance.
Connecticut
Connecticut lawmakers are considering HB 5242, which would allow patients with a terminal prognosis of one year or less to use non‑smokable cannabis products in hospitals and other licensed facilities. The bill includes a safeguard allowing facilities to pause the policy if the Department of Justice or other federal agencies issue enforcement guidance.
Erin Gorman Kirk, Connecticut’s Cannabis Ombudsman, advised the joint committee that current policy means “a registered patient facing a terminal prognosis may be forced to abandon their legally authorized regimen the moment they are admitted to a hospital or nursing home.”
“Patients who cannot or will not tolerate opioids, or who have found in medical cannabis the only effective relief for their pain, nausea, or anxiety, are left without options simply because of where they receive care,” she said, according to a report from Marijuana Moment. “HB 5242 corrects this by requiring covered facilities to allow those with a terminal prognosis of one year or less, to use non-smokable cannabis forms including tinctures, edibles, and topicals.”
Hospital industry groups oppose the legislation, arguing that it would put facilities in conflict with federal law and create compliance challenges for administrators.
Hawaii
Hawaii’s SB 2408 continues to move through the legislature with unanimous committee support. The bill would allow terminally ill patients and qualifying seniors to use medical cannabis in certain residential health facilities that provide a homelike environment. Smoking and vaping would remain prohibited, and facilities would not be required to help patients obtain medical cannabis recommendations.
State health officials noted concerns about federal conflicts but said lawmakers have addressed many of the operational issues. Advocacy organizations including the Marijuana Policy Project, the ACLU of Hawaii, and the Last Prisoner Project have endorsed the measure, emphasizing its potential to improve comfort and quality of life for patients nearing the end of life.
Mississippi
Mississippi stands out as the only state to reject legislation to allow terminally ill patients to use cannabis while in hospice care. A House‑approved bill that would have required hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice centers to allow terminally ill patients to use non‑smokable medical cannabis failed to gain the approval of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
The bill placed responsibility for storage and administration on patients or caregivers, and included a federal carve‑out similar to those in other states. Committee Chair Sen. Hob Bryan said he believed people facing the end of life should have broad access to alternative care, but the measure still failed in an 8-9 vote. The panel approved a motion to reconsider, however, leaving the possibility that the bill could be revived at a later date.
Oregon
Oregon lawmakers advanced HB 4142, which would allow hospice programs, palliative care providers, home care organizations, and certain residential facilities to create policies permitting medical cannabis use. The bill does not apply to hospitals but would expand access for patients with debilitating conditions.
Rep. Farrah Chaichi said the measure recognizes that some patients prefer cannabis because it allows them to remain more alert and engaged with loved ones. She described the bill as a way to support “presence and connection” during the final stages of life.
“While sometimes necessary, opiates are often overly sedative, preventing quality family interaction in someone’s final days,” she said. “As someone who lost my mother while she was intubated, I know how meaningful it is for patients to be present and in the moments of their last days and weeks with their loved ones. This is a quality-of-life and quality-of-care issue. The bill’s goal is to ensure patients who desire this important and valid medical treatment have access across the board.”
Virginia
Virginia legislators reached a compromise on SB 332 and HB 75, which would add hospitals to existing protections for healthcare workers who assist terminally ill patients using medical cannabis. The legislation also establishes a Department of Health working group to develop implementation guidelines and monitor any federal developments that could affect the policy.
The legislation directs the working group to submit a report to the legislature, including “written guidelines for the use of medical cannabis within medical care facilities and the safe operations of medical care facilities” by November 1.
Washington
Washington’s HB 2152 would require hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis beginning in 2027. Patients and caregivers would handle their own administration and secure storage, and smoking or vaping would not be allowed. Facilities would be permitted to suspend the policy if federal agencies take enforcement action.
“The medical use of cannabis may support improved quality of life for a qualifying patient…with a terminal condition,” the text of the bill reads. “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.”
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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
