Washington House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill Allowing Terminal Patients to Use Medical Marijuana in Care Facilities

The Washington House of Representatives has approved legislation requiring certain health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana, passing the measure by a decisive 89 to 6 vote. The bill, House Bill 2152, previously advanced through the House Health Care and Wellness Committee earlier in the session. Sponsored by State Representatives Shelley Kloba (D) and Skyler Rude (R), the proposal now moves to the Senate for further consideration during the 2026 legislative session.

As written, the legislation would require licensed hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care centers across the state to adopt formal policies allowing the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients with terminal conditions starting January 1, 2027. Lawmakers backing the measure have framed it as a quality-of-life issue intended to preserve comfort and dignity for patients receiving end-of-life care, while still giving facilities the ability to maintain safety and operational oversight.

Under the bill, facilities would be required to establish clear guidelines governing how medical marijuana may be used on site. Smoking and vaping would not be allowed within these settings, even if those are the patient’s typical methods of consumption. Use of marijuana would need to be documented in the patient’s medical record, and patients would need to provide valid medical authorization.

Responsibility for obtaining, administering and removing marijuana would fall entirely on the patient or a designated provider, not on medical staff. Doctors, nurses and other health care workers would be prohibited from administering marijuana. Sharing marijuana between patients or visitors would also be banned. Any remaining marijuana would need to be removed upon discharge, or disposed of as medical waste if removal is not possible.

The bill also includes liability protections for facilities. Health care providers would not risk losing their licenses for noncompliance, and facilities would be allowed to temporarily suspend the policy if federal authorities were to take enforcement action. Emergency departments and patients receiving emergency care are specifically exempt from the requirements.

With strong bipartisan support demonstrated in the House vote, the measure now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether Washington becomes one of the first states to explicitly require health care facilities to accommodate medical marijuana use for terminally ill patients.