This article was originally published by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and appears here with permission.
Lawmakers have advanced two bills to the desk of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that seek to expand the rights of cannabis consumers.
Senate Bill 302 expands existing law (The Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act a/k/a Ryan’s Law) so that older patients suffering from chronic diseases may legally access certain cannabis products in private hospitals and other eligible healthcare facilities.
Under the current law, only terminally ill patients may use cannabis in specified healthcare settings. The proposed legislation permits patients ages 65 or older to access cannabis products in instances where a physician has deemed such use to be appropriate.
Qualified patients may not inhale or vaporize herbal cannabis in healthcare settings, and healthcare staff are forbidden from …