SB 5900
In CommitteeSenate
Cannabis/health facilities
Permitting the medical use of cannabis by qualifying patients in specified health care facilities.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice centers, provided the facility has a policy allowing it. It sets strict rules—such as banning smoking and requiring secure storage—to balance patient comfort with safety and compliance with federal law.
- Starting January 1, 2027, hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice centers must allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in the facility under the facility’s written policy.
- Facility policies must ban smoking or vaping of cannabis—even if that’s the patient’s usual method—and require use of non-smoked forms (e.g., edibles, oils).
- Patients or their designated providers must acquire, store, and remove the cannabis themselves; staff may not handle or administer it.
- Cannabis must be stored in a locked container in the patient’s room or with the designated provider, and any leftover product must be taken by the patient or provider at discharge.
- Facilities must include medical cannabis use in the patient’s medical records, and patients must provide a valid authorization (e.g., a doctor’s note or state-issued card).
- If a patient cannot remove leftover cannabis and has no available designated provider, the facility may dispose of it as medical waste per its policy.
Who is affected
- Terminally ill patients (qualifying patients) — Terminally ill patients who qualify under state law and wish to use medical cannabis for symptom relief or comfort in a health facility.
- Health care facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, hospice centers) — Hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice centers must create and implement policies permitting medical cannabis use under strict conditions.
- Designated providers — Designated providers (e.g., family members or caregivers authorized by the patient) must obtain, store, and remove the cannabis; they may not share it or leave it behind at discharge.
- Health care professionals and facility staff — Staff (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) are prohibited from handling or administering cannabis, even if it's part of the patient’s care plan.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Allows terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in facilities to improve comfort and quality of life—particularly for symptom relief (e.g., pain, nausea, appetite loss)—while requiring documentation and authorization to support clinical oversight and safety.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a); Sec. 2(1)(b), (c)Mandates secure storage in locked containers to prevent unauthorized access, diversion, or misuse—balancing patient autonomy with facility safety and regulatory compliance.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(e)Affirms patient autonomy and dignity by permitting use of a legally recognized medical treatment in end-of-life care settings, without requiring facilities to adopt the policy as a licensing condition—preserving facility discretion while protecting patient rights.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b); Sec. 2(3)Requires facilities to include cannabis use in medical records and allows for disposal of unclaimed product as medical waste—providing clarity on documentation and waste handling, reducing liability exposure for facilities.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(h)Clarifies that federal Schedule I status alone does not prohibit use—reducing fear-based non-compliance by facilities and protecting patients’ access to a state-legal treatment despite federal ambiguity.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)
Patients must acquire, store, and remove cannabis themselves—or rely on a designated provider—while staff are prohibited from handling or administering it, even if clinically indicated. This places a significant burden on patients and families during a vulnerable time, especially for those with limited mobility, cognitive impairment, or no available caregiver.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(d), (f)The ban on smoking/vaping—even when it is the patient’s preferred and most effective method—may reduce symptom relief efficacy for many terminally ill patients, particularly those with severe nausea, pain, or appetite loss who rely on rapid-onset delivery methods.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)Leftover cannabis must be removed at discharge or disposed of as medical waste, but the bill does not require facilities to provide storage or disposal logistics support. This creates risk of waste, legal uncertainty, and added stress for patients/families during discharge planning.
HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(h)Facilities may suspend compliance if federal enforcement action occurs, but the bill does not require advance notice to patients or provide continuity of care protections—potentially disrupting treatment mid-admission without warning.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(a)The exclusion of emergency departments from coverage may leave patients in acute crisis without access to cannabis during time-sensitive symptom management, especially if their terminal condition presents with sudden deterioration.
HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Terminally ill patients benefit significantly: they gain access to a symptom-relief tool in a familiar clinical setting, but face practical burdens (self-administration, no-smoking rule, discharge logistics) that may limit actual use—especially for those with limited support or physical/cognitive impairment.
Facilities gain flexibility to adopt policies aligned with patient needs, but must invest in policy development, staff training, and waste/disposal protocols—without reimbursement or staffing support. Liability protections are modest, and federal uncertainty remains a risk.
Designated providers (often family caregivers) assume critical logistical and legal responsibility—acquiring, storing, and removing cannabis—adding to already high caregiver burden during emotionally taxing end-of-life care.
Clinicians and staff are barred from participating in cannabis administration—even when it aligns with best practices—limiting their ability to provide holistic, patient-centered care and potentially fragmenting treatment plans.
Families and caregivers face increased emotional, logistical, and financial strain—especially if they must travel to obtain cannabis, store it securely, and manage disposal—without compensation or institutional support.