Four More States Advance Bills To Allow Medical Marijuana Access In Hospitals
Across the United States, state lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow patients in healthcare facilities—including hospitals—to access medical marijuana. The push for these changes, observed in states ranging from Virginia to Hawaii, centers on expanding treatment options for patients and is largely driven by efforts to adopt what’s known as “Ryan’s Law.”
Expanding Access: “Ryan’s Law” Gains Momentum
The core aim of these bills is to provide a pathway for patients to utilize medical cannabis while receiving care in hospitals and other healthcare settings. The movement is named for a medical cannabis patient in California who has passed away, and the 2026 legislative session has already seen multiple iterations of these reforms introduced across the country. This week, bills related to “Ryan’s Law” saw action in Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, and Washington State.
Colorado
In Colorado, the Senate approved a bill on Thursday, with a vote of 25-5, to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in healthcare facilities. Sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica (D), the legislation, SB 26-007, initially aimed to mandate that facilities allow cannabis use, but was amended to allow facilities to develop their own guidelines. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) would be prohibited from requiring compliance with the policy as a condition of licensure.
Hawaii
Hawaii’s Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed a bill, SB 2408, sponsored by Joy San Buenaventura (D), to give seriously ill patients the option to use medical cannabis in hospitals. The legislation intends to support the safe use of medical cannabis for terminally ill patients and those over sixty-five with chronic diseases. Smoking and vaping would remain prohibited, and facilities could suspend the policy if facing federal enforcement action.
Virginia
Virginia lawmakers approved a Senate-passed bill with amendments to allow medical cannabis access in hospitals for seriously ill patients. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 20-1 to advance the legislation, SB 332, which builds upon existing state law protecting health professionals assisting terminally ill patients with medical cannabis treatment. An amendment was adopted to allow hospitals to permit access to cannabis oil and create a working group to evaluate the use of other cannabis products.
Washington State
The Washington State Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee approved a House-passed “Ryan’s law” bill, HB 2152, which would allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in healthcare facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. The bill passed the full House with a vote of 89-6. Patients would be responsible for acquiring and securely storing their own medical marijuana, and smoking or vaping would be prohibited. Healthcare facilities would need to establish a policy allowing medical cannabis use and note its use in patient records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Ryan’s Law”?
“Ryan’s Law” refers to legislation modelled after a law enacted in California, named after a young medical cannabis patient who passed away, that aims to allow patients to access medical cannabis while hospitalized.
In which states are these bills being considered?
As of this report, bills related to allowing medical cannabis access in healthcare facilities are being considered in Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, and Washington State.
Are healthcare facilities required to allow medical cannabis use under these bills?
The specific requirements vary by state. Some bills initially mandated allowance of cannabis use, but were amended to allow facilities to develop their own guidelines. Other bills do not mandate accommodation due to legal uncertainties.
As these bills progress through state legislatures, it remains to be seen whether they will be enacted into law and how they will ultimately impact patient access to medical cannabis in healthcare settings.