Colorado Governor Jared Polis has approved new legislation allowing patients with terminal illnesses to access medical cannabis while receiving care in hospitals and similar facilities. While supporting the bill, Polis raised concerns that revisions may have moved it away from its original intent.
Speaking during the bill signing, Polis highlighted the state’s history of recognizing the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. He noted that many patients nearing the end of life depend on cannabis to ease symptoms such as chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, and loss of appetite. For some, he said, it can mean remaining conscious and connected with loved ones rather than being heavily medicated in their last days.
However, changes introduced by lawmakers before the bill reached the governor’s desk altered a key provision. Rather than requiring healthcare facilities to allow medical cannabis use, the final version gives hospitals and care centers the choice to opt in. Polis said this adjustment could limit the law’s real-world impact, adding that some institutions may decide not to adopt the policy at all.
Despite those concerns, the governor said he chose to move forward with the bill, describing it as a step in the right direction. He suggested that even a limited policy could encourage healthcare institutions to reconsider their approach to patient autonomy and comfort. At the same time, he emphasized that further action will likely be necessary to ensure broader protections for individuals with terminal illnesses.
Advocacy groups and supporters argue that making participation voluntary weakens the intent of the reform and could lead to inconsistent access across the state. Jim Bartell, whose late son inspired similar legislation known as Ryan’s Law in California and other states, urged lawmakers to restore stronger language. He added that families facing end-of-life decisions need clear, reliable access, not a system that varies by facility.
Under the newly signed measure, healthcare facilities may establish their own rules regarding how medical cannabis is handled, including guidelines for administration and storage. The state’s public health and environment department is barred from tying compliance with the policy to licensing or certification requirements. Facilities may also suspend participation if they face potential federal enforcement risks.
Additional provisions clarify that hospitals are not obligated to supply or manage cannabis directly and offer legal protections for those that permit its use. Meanwhile, a separate proposal aimed at increasing taxes on alcohol and cannabis to fund mental health services failed to advance in a House committee last month.
Marijuana firms like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) focusing on medical marijuana will be pleased that Colorado is moving in the right direction by enacting reforms that permit patients to use their MMJ products even when they are in hospital.
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