This bill is part of the 2019 Cannabis Bills section of our ongoing update on California Cannabis Legislation – see the full California Cannabis Law Legislative Update which includes information on cannabis bills from other years.
SB 305 (Hueso D) Access to Cannabis in Healthcare Facilities Act.
Existing law generally requires the licensure and regulation of various healthcare facilities, including, among others, a residential care facility for persons with chronic life-threatening illness. The Compassionate Use Act of 1996, an initiative measure enacted by the approval of Proposition 215 at the November 5, 1996, statewide general election, prohibits specified criminal penalties from being imposed on a patient or a patient’s primary caregiver who possesses or cultivates cannabis for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician. Existing law, known as the Medical Marijuana Program, requires counties to administer an identification card program for qualified patients and provides immunity from arrest to qualified patients with a valid identification card or designated primary caregivers, within prescribed limits.
This bill, the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act or Ryan’s Law, would require a healthcare facility to allow a patient who is receiving palliative care to use medical cannabis within the healthcare facility, subject to certain restrictions. The bill would require a patient to provide the facility with a copy of their medical marijuana card or written documentation that the use of medical cannabis is recommended by a physician. The bill would authorize a healthcare facility to reasonably restrict the manner in which a patient stores and uses medical cannabis to ensure the safety of other patients, guests, and employees of the healthcare facility, compliance with other state laws, and the safe operations of the healthcare facility. The bill would prohibit the department that licenses the healthcare facility from enforcing these provisions, and compliance with the bill would not be a condition for obtaining, retaining, or renewing a license as a healthcare facility.
Read more about California Cannabis Legislation – see the full California Cannabis Law Legislative Update.
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