Washington State’s Capitol Building.
Following last week’s approval in the House, a proposal that would require certain health care facilities in Washington to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana is scheduled for a February 19 public hearing in the Senate.
House Bill 2152, which passed the Washington House of Representatives last week by an overwhelming 89 to 6 vote, has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care on February 19.
Sponsored by State Representatives Shelley Kloba (D) and Skyler Rude (R) along with 22 bipartisan cosponsors, the measure would require licensed hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers to adopt formal policies allowing qualifying patients with terminal conditions to use medical marijuana beginning January 1, 2027.
Under the proposal, patients would need to provide valid medical authorization, and marijuana use would have to be documented in the patient’s medical record. Although smoking and vaping would be prohibited, patients would be allowed to use and consume medical cannabis in a variety of other methods, including edibles, tinctures, capsules, and topicals.
The legislation makes clear that responsibility for obtaining, administering and removing marijuana would rest entirely with the patient or a designated provider. Doctors, nurses and other medical staff would not be allowed to administer marijuana. Sharing between patients or visitors would also be banned.
With strong bipartisan support already demonstrated in the House, the upcoming Senate hearing will determine whether the proposal continues advancing through the 2026 legislative session.
The February 19 hearing has been scheduled for 8am.
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