Terminally ill Californians have access to medical marijuana in hospitals

By Jelena Martinovic

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law Tuesday requiring hospitals and other health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana, Marijuana Moment reported.

The governor approved the law, also known as Ryan’s Law, sponsored by Senator Ben Hueso (D), who had been pushing for this measure for years.

Photo from the National Cancer Institute via Unsplash

“To me it is inconceivable that in a state where medical cannabis was legalized more than 25 years ago, people with the most profound ailments treated in our state’s health facilities would not have access to this proven, effective and prescribed treatment” , explained Hueso in a press release. “Instead, terminally ill patients in California health facilities are given heavy opiates that rob them of their precious last moments with family and friends. This is a simple but crucial step that will bring relief, compassion, and dignity to terminally ill Californians. “

In 2019, Newsom vetoed an earlier version of the bill amid confusion over possible implications related to the approval of cannabis use in healthcare facilities.

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The question arose as to whether medical facilities in legal marijuana states can legally allow certain patients to use medical cannabis without jeopardizing the facility’s federal funding.

Hueso recently asked the head of the U.S. Department of Health (HHS) to clarify the issue.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) responded in a letter to Hueso that there are no federal regulations specifically addressing the issue and that the agency is not aware of any cases where funding is due to a hospital or hospital Long-term funding was withdrawn to allow patients to consume medical marijuana.

“With this confirmation from CMS and the legal guarantees, we are confident that healthcare facilities have the necessary authority to implement these provisions and at the same time ensure the safety of other patients, guests and employees of the healthcare facility, compliance with other state laws, and the safe operation of the healthcare facility”, said Senator Hueso.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.