A bill that would require health care facilities in Washington to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana while receiving care was just given approval by the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
The committee voted to advance House Bill 2152, sending the proposal to the Rules Committee, the final step before it can be considered by the full Senate. The measure had already cleared the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee earlier in the session, and previously passed the House of Representatives by a decisive 89 to 6 margin. Given it was amended slightly in the Senate, approval by the chamber will send it back to the House for a concurrence vote before it can be sent to Governor Ferguson.
Sponsored by State Representatives Shelley Kloba (D) and Skyler Rude (R) alongside 22 bipartisan cosponsors, the legislation would require licensed hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers to adopt written policies allowing qualifying terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana beginning January 1, 2027.
Under the proposal, patients would need to provide valid medical authorization, and any marijuana use would have to be documented in their medical record. While smoking and vaping would remain prohibited, patients would be allowed to consume marijuana through other methods, including edibles, tinctures, capsules and topicals.
The bill makes clear that obtaining, administering and removing marijuana would be the responsibility of the patient or a designated provider. Doctors, nurses and other facility staff would not be allowed to administer marijuana, and sharing between patients or visitors would be barred.
With approval from both the Health & Long-Term Care Committee and now the Ways & Means Committee, House Bill 2152 is positioned for consideration by the full Senate as lawmakers continue work during the 2026 legislative session.
