Oregon House Passes Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Access For Patients In Hospice Care

The Oregon House of Representatives has approved a bill that would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to access medical marijuana in certain health facilities such as hospices.

The legislation from Rep. Farrah Chaichi (D) cleared the chamber in a 39-3 vote on Friday, sending it to the Senate for consideration. That chamber’s Health Care Committee is scheduled to take up the proposal on Wednesday.

HB 4142 would require hospice, palliative and home care organizations, as well as residential facilities, to develop rules permitting registered patients with debilitating conditions to use medical cannabis.

The reform is similar to—albeit somewhat more limited than—multiple “Ryan’s law” measures that have advanced in state legislatures across the country. Ryan’s law, which is named after a young cannabis patient in California who passed away, generally refers to a policy broadly permitting medical marijuana use in health facilities such as hospitals.

The Oregon bill wouldn’t extend to hospitals, but it would build upon the state’s medical cannabis program in a way that advocates say would meaningfully improve quality of life for seriously ill patients.

Under the proposal, the Oregon State Board of Nursing would further be prohibited “from disciplining a nurse who discusses the medical use of marijuana with a patient,” according to a legislative summary. It would additionally make it so eligible health facilities could act as medical marijuana caregivers if authorized by regulators.

The legislation “exempts residential facilities that provide a patient with medical marijuana from criminal laws related to the possession, delivery, or manufacture of marijuana” and “allows a conditionally designated residential facility to develop a written policy and train staff before the operative date,” the summary says.

If enacted into law, the measure would become operative on January 1, 2027.

“This bill is an important tool to facilitate cannabis use as an alternative or addition to opioid use in end-of-life care,” Chaichi said on the floor ahead of the vote. “While sometimes necessary, opioids are often overly sedative, preventing quality family time interactions in a person’s final days.”

“As someone who lost my mother while she was intubated, I know how meaningful it is for patients to be present and in the moment for their last days and weeks with their loved ones,” she said. “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 to it.”

Dena Swift, owner of Crossroads End of Life Doula Services, said in written testimony to the Senate committee ahead of its scheduled hearing that “cannabis has shown potential benefits in end-of-life care, particularly for individuals facing terminal illnesses.”

“It can help alleviate symptoms such as chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia, which are common during this stage,” she said. “Additionally, cannabis may enhance the effectiveness of traditional medications, like opioids, by reducing the required dosage and minimizing side effects. This can contribute to improved comfort and quality of life for patients in their final days.”

—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.

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Lawmakers in multiple states are advancing similar bills meant to provide patients with access to medical marijuana in health care facilities, with legislators across the U.S. making the case this week for a policy change they say is necessary to ensure patients have a full range of treatment options at their disposal.

Last week alone, Ryan’s law proposals saw action in at least four states: Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia and Washington State.

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.