Bill > HB5658

This bill, known as the "Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act" or Ryan's Law, aims to allow terminally ill patients to safely use medicinal cannabis within specified health care facilities. A "terminally ill" patient is defined as someone with a medical condition expected to result in a life of one year or less. The bill clarifies that "health care facility" includes various health facilities but excludes chemical dependency recovery hospitals and state hospitals. Under this act, health care facilities must permit the use of medicinal cannabis, but prohibit smoking or vaping, and must document its use in patient records, ensuring it is stored securely in a locked container to protect others. The bill also mandates that facilities develop written guidelines for medicinal cannabis use and clarifies that this provision does not apply to emergency services or departments. Furthermore, it states that facilities permitting medicinal cannabis use must comply with drug and medication requirements for Schedule II, III, and IV drugs and are subject to enforcement by the Bureau for Public Health, regardless of cannabis being a Schedule I drug federally. However, the bill does not require facilities to recommend or include medicinal cannabis in discharge plans, and facilities may suspend compliance if federal agencies initiate enforcement actions or issue rules prohibiting its use in health care settings, though they cannot prohibit use solely because cannabis is federally classified as a Schedule I drug.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5658&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill