Virginia House of Delegates Approves Compromise Bill Allowing Medical Marijuana Use in Hospitals With Near-Unanimous 97–1 Vote
The Virginia House of Delegates has passed legislation to allow patients to use medical marijuana in hospitals, advancing a compromise measure that builds on existing state cannabis protections.
Lawmakers in both chambers earlier this month approved differing versions of the proposal. Sponsors ultimately negotiated a unified approach, and the amended bill cleared the House on Tuesday in a 97–1 vote.
The measure, SB 332, was introduced by Barbara Favola (D). As revised, it would expand current state law that shields health professionals in hospices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities from disciplinary action when assisting terminally ill patients with medical cannabis. The updated language adds hospitals to that statute, extending similar protections to providers in those settings.
Legislation Creates Health Department Working Group to Develop Guidelines and Review Federal Cannabis Policy Under Controlled Substances Act
Beyond expanding legal protections, the bill would establish a new working group under the Virginia Department of Health tasked with examining how cannabis products could be provided within medical care facilities.
According to the legislation, the group must evaluate any available federal guidance or proposed regulations concerning cannabis use, including potential changes to its classification under the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.), and assess how those developments intersect with Virginia law.
The working group would include representatives from the Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association and the Virginia Health Care Association, as well as health care providers and palliative, hospice and hospital volunteers experienced in caring for patients with chronic illnesses.
Members would be required to submit a report by November 1 to key legislative committees. That report must include written guidelines addressing both the use of medical cannabis within health care facilities and protocols to ensure safe operations.
Companion House Bill Advances in Senate Committee as Lawmakers Nationwide Push to Expand Cannabis Access in Health Care Settings
A companion proposal, HB 75, sponsored by Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra (D), is scheduled for consideration before the Senate Committee on Education and Health.
Virginia’s action comes amid a broader national push by state lawmakers seeking to clarify that patients can access medical marijuana in clinical settings. Supporters argue that without explicit statutory protections, hospitals may prohibit cannabis use even for registered patients because of lingering federal restrictions and internal compliance concerns.
Proponents say the change is necessary to ensure patients, particularly those with serious or terminal conditions, have access to the full range of treatment options available under state law.
Debate Over Hospital Access Unfolds as Virginia Lawmakers Also Weigh Recreational Cannabis Sales Legislation
The advancement of the hospital-use measure coincides with ongoing debates in Virginia over broader cannabis policy, including proposals to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales.
Taken together, the discussions reflect a continuing effort by state lawmakers to refine Virginia’s cannabis framework balancing patient access, provider protections and regulatory clarity as the state navigates the evolving legal landscape surrounding marijuana.
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