A group of eight Rhode Island senators have filed legislation that would require certain healthcare facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana.
Cannabis capsules.
Senate Bill 847, filed today, has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee for consideration.
The proposal serves as a companion to House Bill 5630, introduced in February with ten sponsors. The two measures share identical language, both designed to ensure access to medical marijuana for patients in healthcare facilities while implementing strict guidelines for its use. The Senate sponsors include Senators Melissa Murray (D), Jonathon Acosta (D), Samuel Bell (D), Brian Thompson (D), Dawn Euer (D), Mark McKenney (D), Pamela Lauria (D), and Bridget Valverde (D).
Under the proposed legislation, healthcare facilities would be required to allow the use of medical marijuana for terminally ill patients but would not be mandated to provide or dispense it. The bill prohibits smoking and vaping, requiring that marijuana be consumed in other forms such as tinctures or edibles. Patients would need to provide identification and valid medical marijuana documentation, and facilities would have to implement written guidelines for safe storage and use.
The legislation also ensures that compliance would not be a condition for facility licensing, and institutions would have the ability to suspend participation if federal enforcement actions jeopardize state medical marijuana programs.
If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately.
