Cannabis/health facilities

AN ACT Relating to permitting the medical use of cannabis by 1
qualifying patients in specified health care facilities; adding a new 2
section to chapter 69.51A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 3
RCW; adding a new section to chapter 18.51 RCW; adding a new section 4
to chapter 70.127 RCW; and creating a new section. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the medical 7
use of cannabis may support improved quality of life for a qualifying 8
patient, as defined in RCW 69.51A.010, with a terminal condition.9
(2) It is the intent of the legislature: 10
(a) To promote dignity and comfort for terminally ill patients 11
while maintaining the integrity and safety of health care 12
environments; and 13
(b) That hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice care centers 14
develop policies consistent with existing Washington law regarding 15
the medical use of cannabis that allow the medical use of cannabis by 16
a qualifying patient with a terminal condition in the facility.17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 69.51A 18
RCW to read as follows: 19
S-3631.1
SENATE BILL 5900
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Riccelli, Robinson, Hasegawa, Nobles, Saldaña, and C.
Wilson
Prefiled 12/16/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5900
(1) Beginning January 1, 2027, hospitals licensed under chapter 1
70.41 RCW, nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW, and 2
hospice care centers licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW shall permit 3
the medical use of cannabis by a qualifying patient with a terminal 4
condition, as defined in RCW 70.122.020, in the facility according to 5
the facility's policy. The facility shall establish a policy that 6
permits the medical use of cannabis by a qualifying patient and 7
contains the following elements: 8
(a) Prohibits smoking or vaping as a method of use, even if 9
smoking or vaping is the qualifying patient's preferred and routine 10
method of use; 11
(b) Requires the qualifying patient's medical use of cannabis to 12
be included in the patient's medical records; 13
(c) Requires a qualifying patient with a terminal condition, as 14
defined in RCW 70.122.020, to provide a copy of the patient's valid 15
authorization; 16
(d) Requires a qualifying patient or a qualifying patient's 17
designated provider to be responsible for acquiring, administering, 18
and removing medical cannabis; 19
(e) Requires medical cannabis to be stored securely at all times 20
in a locked container in the qualifying patient's room, other 21
designated area, or with the qualifying patient's designated 22
provider; 23
(f) Prohibits health care professionals and facility staff, 24
including, but not limited to, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, 25
from administering medical cannabis; 26
(g) Prohibits sharing medical cannabis between patients and 27
visitors; and 28
(h) Requires all remaining medical cannabis be removed by the 29
qualifying patient or qualifying patient's designated provider upon 30
patient discharge. If a qualifying patient is unable to remove the 31
medical cannabis and does not have a designated provider that is 32
available to remove the medical cannabis, the product shall be 33
disposed of in accordance with the health care facility's policy and 34
procedure governing medical waste. 35
(2) Policies established pursuant to this section shall not apply 36
to a facility's emergency department or to a patient receiving 37
emergency care. 38
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(3) Compliance with this section shall not be a condition for 1
obtaining, retaining, or renewing a hospital, nursing home, or 2
hospice care center license. 3
(4)(a) If a federal regulatory agency, the United States 4
department of justice, or the federal centers for medicare and 5
medicaid services initiates an enforcement action against a hospital, 6
nursing home, or hospice care center related to the facility's 7
compliance with this section or issues a rule or other notification 8
that expressly prohibits the medical use of cannabis in health care 9
facilities, a hospital, nursing home, or hospice care center may 10
suspend compliance with this section until the regulatory agency, the 11
United States department of justice, or the federal centers for 12
medicare and medicaid services notifies the facility that it may 13
resume permitting the use of medical cannabis within the facility.14
(b) (a) of this subsection does not permit a hospital, nursing 15
home, or hospice care center to prohibit patient use of medical 16
cannabis due solely to the fact that cannabis is a Schedule I drug 17
pursuant to the federal uniform controlled substances act, or other 18
federal constraints on the use of medicinal cannabis that were in 19
existence prior to the effective date of this section.20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 70.41 21
RCW to read as follows: 22
A hospital licensed under this chapter shall establish a policy 23
allowing for the medical use of cannabis in compliance with section 2 24
of this act. 25
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 18.51 26
RCW to read as follows: 27
A nursing home licensed under this chapter shall establish a 28
policy allowing for the medical use of cannabis in compliance with 29
section 2 of this act. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 70.127 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
A hospice care center licensed under this chapter shall establish 33
a policy allowing for the medical use of cannabis in compliance with 34
section 2 of this act. 35
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