Washington House Approves Medical Cannabis Access for Terminally Ill

Washington's House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities—a significant expansion of patient rights in end-of-life care.

The legislation cleared the chamber 89-6, with only minimal opposition. Rep. Shelley Kloba (D) sponsored the measure, which now advances to the state Senate for consideration.

The bill addresses a long-standing gap in Washington's medical cannabis framework. While the state legalized medical marijuana in 1998 and adult-use cannabis in 2012, most healthcare facilities have maintained strict policies prohibiting any form of cannabis use on their premises—even for patients with terminal diagnoses who rely on it for symptom management.

Why This Matters

Terminally ill patients often face a difficult choice when entering hospice care or checking into hospitals: continue using medical cannabis that helps manage pain, nausea, or other symptoms, or comply with facility policies that ban all cannabis products.

The practical impact extends beyond patient comfort. Many end-of-life patients use cannabis as an alternative to opioids for pain management, or to stimulate appetite during cancer treatment. Without access to their medicine in healthcare settings, patients may experience unnecessary suffering or require higher doses of pharmaceutical alternatives.

Washington joins a small but growing number of states addressing this issue. Similar legislation has passed in recent years in states like Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania, reflecting broader recognition that medical cannabis policies need to accommodate end-of-life care realities.

The Path Forward

The Senate will now take up the measure, though timing remains unclear. With such strong bipartisan support in the House—only six members voted against it—the bill appears positioned for favorable consideration in the upper chamber.

If enacted, the law would likely include provisions requiring patients to provide documentation of their terminal illness and medical cannabis authorization. Healthcare facilities would retain some discretion over implementation details, such as designating specific areas for use or establishing protocols for administration.

The legislation comes as Washington continues refining its cannabis regulatory framework. The state's medical program has faced challenges in recent years as the larger adult-use market has grown, with some advocates arguing that medical patients' needs have been overlooked in favor of commercial priorities.

Industry and Advocacy Response

Patient advocacy groups have long pushed for this type of access, arguing that denying terminally ill patients their medicine constitutes a form of unnecessary cruelty. The strong House vote suggests these arguments have resonated with lawmakers across the political spectrum.

For Washington's medical cannabis industry, the bill represents validation of the program's therapeutic value. While the immediate market impact may be limited—terminally ill patients represent a small subset of medical users—the symbolic importance of recognizing cannabis as legitimate medicine in healthcare settings carries weight.

The measure also highlights ongoing tensions between federal prohibition and state-level cannabis policies. Most healthcare facilities, particularly those receiving federal funding, have cited federal law as justification for blanket cannabis bans. State-level protections like this bill attempt to carve out space for medical use despite that federal-state conflict.

With Senate consideration ahead, supporters will be watching to see if the upper chamber matches the House's enthusiasm or if amendments emerge during the legislative process.

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This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.