OLYMPIA — In the final chapter of life, comfort should never be denied by bureaucracy.
This week, the Washington State House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 2152, Ryan’s Law, ensuring that terminally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities can access medical cannabis as part of their end-of-life care. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, 89–6.
Prime sponsor Rep. Shelley Kloba (D–Kirkland) said the legislation is rooted in compassion, dignity, and respect for patient choice.
“When someone is facing the end of their life, our responsibility is simple: to reduce suffering and honor their dignity,” said Kloba. “No one should be forced to endure unnecessary pain or anxiety because of outdated policies that ignore what patients and families know works for them.”
Ryan’s Law allows qualifying patients with a terminal condition to use medically authorized cannabis while receiving inpatient care, under clear and carefully defined guidelines developed by each facility.
Washington has allowed medical cannabis since 1998, but many terminally ill patients have been forced to choose between symptom relief and remaining in a health care facility. HB 2152 closes that gap, aligning medical policy with real-world patient needs.
“This bill is about meeting people where they are, at one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives,” Kloba said. “For many patients, medical cannabis helps manage pain, nausea, anxiety, and fear, sometimes when nothing else works. They deserve access to that relief without having to leave their hospital bed.”
The legislation is named in honor of Ryan, whose experience in Washington hospitals during the last seven weeks of his life inspired similar laws across the country. He was denied access to medical cannabis while in one hospital then had to move to a different hospital where he was able to manage his symptoms while allowing him to engage meaningfully with friends and family during his precious last days. States that have implemented Ryan’s Law have done so safely, without reported incidents, and with positive outcomes for patients and families.
HB 2152 includes safeguards for health care facilities, including clear policy requirements and a federal enforcement safe harbor, ensuring that compassionate care and institutional responsibility go hand in hand.
“This is about humanity,” Kloba added. “At the end of life, people deserve comfort, autonomy, and peace. Ryan’s Law brings us one step closer to a more humane health care system.”
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.