Colorado Senate Advances Bill to Allow Terminally Ill Patients to Use Medical Marijuana in Health Facilities
- Senate Bill 7 in Colorado would require licensed health facilities to allow terminally ill medical marijuana patients to use non-smokable forms of marijuana on-site, following a physician’s recommendation.
- The bill includes liability protections for facilities and employees, shielding them from responsibility unless actions are negligent or reckless.
- The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment cannot make compliance a condition for licensing, and facilities can temporarily suspend compliance if federal agencies enforce suspension requirements.
- After passing the Senate’s second reading, the bill still requires a final Senate vote and House approval; if enacted, it will take effect on August 12, 2026.
A measure that would require licensed health facilities in Colorado to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana while receiving care has been approved by the full Senate through its second reading. Senate Bill 7, introduced on January 14 by State Senators Kyle Mullica (D), Lisa Feret (D) and Sheila Lieder (D), would mandate that licensed or certified health facilities allow registered medical marijuana patients with a terminal illness to use their medicine on-site. The proposal specifies that marijuana could not be smoked or vaped inside facilities, but would allow forms such as edibles, tinctures, capsules and other non-combustible products, so long as use is consistent with a physician’s recommendation.
The legislation applies to patients who are checked into or residing at a qualifying health facility. It also includes liability protections for facilities and their employees, stating they would not be held responsible for actions taken in compliance with the law unless those actions were negligent or reckless.
Under SB 7, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment would be prohibited from making compliance with the measure a condition for a facility to obtain, maintain or renew a license or certification. The bill further allows facilities to temporarily suspend compliance if a federal agency, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the U.S. Department of Justice, takes enforcement action or issues guidance requiring suspension. Facilities would need to resume compliance once the federal issue is resolved.
Having cleared second reading in the Senate, the proposal must still pass a third and final reading before it can be sent to the House for consideration. If ultimately enacted, the measure would take effect August 12, 2026.