This bill is part of the 2023 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 302 (Stern D) Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act (Ryan’s Law).
Note: Senate Bill 302 passed and was signed by the Governor with a signing message.
Existing law, the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act or Ryan’s Law, requires specified types of health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, as defined, subject to certain restrictions. Existing law requires that health care facilities permitting patient use of medicinal cannabis comply with other drug and medication requirements, as specified, and makes those facilities subject to enforcement actions by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes a health care facility to suspend compliance with these provisions if a regulatory agency, the United States Department of Justice, or the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes specified actions, including initiating an enforcement action against a health care facility related to the facility’s compliance with a state-regulated medical marijuana program.
This bill would expand those provisions to a patient who is over 65 years of age with a chronic disease. The bill would expand the definition of health care facility to also include a home health agency, as defined. The bill would additionally require a health care facility permitting patient use of medicinal cannabis, as specified, to ensure a denial of admission to the health care facility is not because of the patient’s use of medicinal cannabis. The bill would also authorize a health care facility to suspend compliance with these provisions if a regulatory agency, the United States Department of Justice, or the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes an inquiry about the health care facility’s activities.
Read more about California Cannabis Legislation – see the full California Cannabis Law Legislative Update.
Contact us by phone or email to learn more about California cannabis law including state, county or city cannabis licensing and cannabis regulations, cannabis regulatory compliance, and cannabis litigation.