SB 302 (Stern, D-Calabasas)
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Passed the Assembly and Senate agreed to Assembly amendments on Sept. 14. Pending governor’s action.
Currently, “Ryan’s Law” requires health care facilities — including hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, and assisted living centers — to allow terminally ill patients to use medicinal cannabis within the facility, subject to specified requirements. SB 302 would add patients who are over 65 years of age with a chronic disease to the list of those who can use medicinal cannabis within these facilities. It would also include home health in the definition of a health care facility, for most purposes. These patients would be subject to the same requirements that are applicable to terminally ill patients. New amendments would add additional requirements for patients over age 65 seeking to use medicinal cannabis and require health facilities to train their staff on the facility’s written guidelines for the use and disposal of medicinal cannabis within the facility. The bill would also authorize a health care facility to suspend compliance with “Ryan’s Law” if a regulatory agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services makes an inquiry about the health care facility’s activities under this law or issues a notice to suspend funding.