A bipartisan group of 18 state senators has introduced legislation in Pennsylvania that would expand access to medical marijuana for terminally ill patients.
Senate Bill 1035, referred to the Law and Justice Committee today, would amend the state’s Medical Marijuana Act to create a new section titled “Compassionate Access to Medical Marijuana,” also known as Ryan’s Law. The measure is designed to ensure that patients with a life expectancy of one year or less can legally and safely use medical marijuana while receiving care in hospitals and other licensed health care facilities.
The proposal requires facilities to permit the use of medical marijuana, though smoking and vaping would be prohibited. Patients would need to present valid state-issued identification or written certification, and facilities could require the marijuana to be stored in locked containers for safety. The law would also require patient use to be recorded in medical records and for facilities to establish written guidelines for internal compliance.
The bill clarifies that health care providers would not be required to recommend marijuana or include it in discharge planning. It also specifies that facilities will not risk their licensure by complying, though they may suspend the policy if federal agencies like the Department of Justice or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issue direct prohibitions or enforcement actions.
With support spanning both parties, the measure marks the latest step in Pennsylvania’s ongoing effort to expand patient access under its medical marijuana program, which was first established in 2016.
