More than five years after California enacted the nation’s first Ryan’s Law to guarantee hospital access to medical cannabis for terminally ill patients, lawmakers in several additional states are moving to adopt similar protections. The push reflects a growing recognition that patients who rely on cannabis for comfort and symptom relief should not lose access simply because they are admitted to a hospital.
Advocates, including the Ryan’s Law Foundation and national reform groups, have spent the past few years encouraging states with medical cannabis programs to close this gap in patient care. California and Minnesota have already implemented versions of the policy. Now, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Colorado are advancing their own bills to ensure that seriously ill patients can continue using non‑inhaled medical cannabis in clinical settings.
Oregon Enacts a New Compassionate‑Use Law
Oregon became the latest state to adopt a compassionate‑use policy last month, when Gov. Tina Kotek signed HB 4142 to expand access to medical cannabis for patients receiving end‑of‑life or supportive care. The law permits, but does not require, hospice programs, palliative care providers, home‑care organizations, and certain licensed residential facilities to allow patients to use medical cannabis on site.
The measure is not a full Ryan’s Law, since it does not extend to hospitals, but it reflects the same goal of ensuring that seriously ill patients can continue using non‑smokable cannabis products for comfort. Participating facilities must create written policies covering storage, administration, and staff training. The law also protects nurses and other providers from discipline for discussing medical cannabis with patients.
Pennsylvania Advances a Ryan’s Law Model
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have advanced a bill modeled directly on Ryan’s Law to allow terminally ill patients to use non‑smokable forms of medical cannabis in hospitals. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Dan Frankel, cleared the House Health Committee in a bipartisan vote on Tuesday, Marijuana Moment reported, giving the measure early momentum as lawmakers revisit gaps in the state’s medical cannabis program.
The bill would require licensed health care facilities to permit cannabis use for patients with a life expectancy of one year or less. Smoking and vaping would remain prohibited, but edibles, tinctures, and capsules would be allowed. Hospitals would need to document cannabis use in the patient’s medical record and create written guidelines for storage and administration, including locked containers for safety.
The legislation also includes a safeguard allowing facilities to suspend cannabis use if federal agencies take enforcement action against medical cannabis in hospitals. Frankel said the goal is to give patients and families clarity and comfort during end‑of‑life care, noting that hospitals need clear legal guidance to support those who rely on medical cannabis.
Louisiana Bill Clears the Senate
Louisiana lawmakers are also moving forward. The state Senate recently passed SB 270, which would allow patients with terminal and irreversible conditions to use medical cannabis in hospitals. The bill requires hospitals to create written guidelines permitting on‑site use of non‑smokable cannabis and clarifies that patients or caregivers, not hospital staff, are responsible for acquiring, storing, and administering the medicine.
Cannabis must be kept in a locked container provided by the patient. Health care workers are prohibited from handling the product. An amendment negotiated with the Louisiana Hospital Association allows facilities to opt out if federal officials take action against any hospital in the state over medical cannabis use.
Supporters say the bill responds to constituents who believe that therapeutic cannabis, already legal in Louisiana, should be available to patients who are terminally ill or otherwise in need of comfort.
Colorado Enacts a Statewide Requirement
Colorado has gone a step further. Gov. Jared Polis recently signed a bill known as Ryan’s Law that permits, but does not require, state‑licensed hospitals, hospice centers, and nursing homes to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis on site. The law applies to registered medical cannabis patients and permits only non‑inhaled forms such as edibles, tinctures, lotions, and patches.
Facilities must document cannabis use in medical records and establish written storage guidelines, typically involving locked containers. The law also protects health care workers by specifying that staff are not required to store, dispense, or administer cannabis.
However, the measure includes amendments that add an opt‑out clause, a provision Polis called out as he signed the measure. If federal agencies threaten enforcement or funding consequences, facilities can immediately suspend the program. The state guarantees that it will not revoke a facility’s license for complying with the law.
“Despite the changes, I am signing this bill today because even an incremental step can encourage health care facilities to develop policies that better respect patient choice,” the governor said. “However, I do want to be clear: more work does need to be done to deliver the protections that terminally ill Coloradans deserve.”
More States Consider Similar Protections
These efforts reflect a broader national trend. According to reporting on this year’s legislative sessions, at least 13 states are considering Ryan’s Law‑style bills, with proposals introduced from New York to Hawaii. Advocates say the goal is simple: ensure that patients who rely on medical cannabis for pain, appetite, nausea, or comfort do not lose access during hospitalization.
California’s original law, passed in 2021, demonstrated that hospitals can safely accommodate non‑smokable cannabis use for terminally ill patients while maintaining compliance with federal requirements. Minnesota followed with its own version, and momentum has continued to build as more states revisit their medical cannabis frameworks.
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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.
