Marijuana Moment: Virginia House Passes Bill To Allow Medical Marijuana Use In Hospitals

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The Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill to allow patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals.

While both the House and Senate earlier this month approved differing versions of the cannabis legislation, the sponsors of those bills have agreed on a compromise approach which cleared the House in a 97-1 vote on Tuesday.

As amended, SB 332 from Sen. Barbara Favola (D) would build upon existing state law protecting health professionals at hospices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities that aid terminally ill patients in utilizing medical cannabis treatment from punishment by adding hospitals to the statute.

It would also create a new working group under the Department of Health to “discuss the implementation process for providing cannabis products to patients within medical care facilities.”

“The work group shall assess any available federal guidance or proposed regulations on the use of cannabis products or changes to the schedule for cannabis products under the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.) as well as interaction with applicable state laws,” the bill says.

Its members would include representatives of the Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association and the Virginia Health Care Association, as well as health care providers and palliative, hospice, and hospital volunteers familiar with issues associated with providing care to individuals experiencing chronic illness.

The bill directs the working group to submit a report to key legislative committees including “written guidelines for the use of medical cannabis within medical care facilities and the safe operations of medical care facilities” by November 1.

The House version of the proposal, HB 75 from Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra (D), is scheduled for action before the Senate Committee on Education and Health on Thursday.

Lawmakers in multiple states are advancing similar bills meant to provide patients with access to medical marijuana in health care facilities, with legislators across the U.S. making the case this month for a policy change they say is necessary to ensure patients have a full range of cannabis treatment options at their disposal.

Meanwhile, the advancement of the Virginia legislation comes as lawmakers are also considering bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales and provide resentencing relief for people with prior cannabis convictions.

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