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HB 5630

AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- COMPASSIONATE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 9 co-sponsors

Authorizes terminally ill Rhode Island patients to use medicinal cannabis on-site in certain healthcare facilities, with ID, medical card/rec, records, and safety/storage rules.

04/23/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 5630

Summary — HB 5630: Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act

Status: Introduced March 14, 2025; Committee recommended measure be held for further study (04/23/2025). Effective date if enacted: upon passage.

Purpose

To allow terminally ill patients to use medicinal cannabis while admitted to certain healthcare facilities in Rhode Island, subject to safety, documentation, and operational restrictions, and consistent with the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act (Title 21, chapter 28.6).

Key definitions

  • “Patient”: an individual who is terminally ill (prognosis of life ≤ 1 year if disease follows its natural course).
  • “Medicinal cannabis”: cannabis or cannabis products used in compliance with the state medical marijuana act.
  • “Healthcare facility”: as defined in § 23-15-2; expressly excludes chemical dependency recovery facilities.

Main provisions / requirements

  • Healthcare facilities must permit terminally ill patients to use medicinal cannabis on site, subject to the rules below (Section 21‑28.12‑4):
    • Smoking and vaping of cannabis are prohibited.
    • Use of medicinal cannabis must be included in the patient’s medical record.
    • Patients must provide facility with valid government ID and a copy of their medical marijuana card or written physician recommendation.
    • Facilities may place reasonable restrictions on storage and use (e.g., requiring locked containers) to protect other patients, guests, and staff and to ensure operational safety.
    • Facilities must develop and distribute written guidelines describing on-site use procedures.
  • Emergency care exception: provisions do not apply to patients receiving emergency services.

Compliance, enforcement, and limits

  • Facilities permitting on-site use must comply with drug/medication requirements applicable to Schedule II–IV drugs and are subject to enforcement by the Rhode Island Department of Health (Section 21‑28.12‑5).
  • Facilities are not required to recommend medicinal cannabis to patients or include it in discharge plans (Section 21‑28.12‑6).
  • Compliance with this chapter is not a condition for obtaining, retaining, or renewing a healthcare facility license (Section 21‑28.12‑7).
  • The chapter does not change other state laws on cultivation, possession, distribution, or use of cannabis.

Federal interaction

  • A facility may suspend permitting on-site medicinal cannabis use if a federal agency (including DOJ or CMS) initiates enforcement actions relating to state medical marijuana programs or issues rules expressly prohibiting such use; suspension may continue until the agency notifies the facility it may resume (Section 21‑28.12‑8).
  • The chapter does not allow facilities to ban use solely because cannabis is a federal Schedule I drug under pre-existing federal constraints.

Who is affected

  • Terminally ill patients with a valid RI medical marijuana card or physician recommendation receiving care in covered healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, hospice).
  • Healthcare facility administrators and clinical staff (policy development, recordkeeping, storage/security, adherence to medication rules).
  • Department of Health (oversight/enforcement).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced in the 2025 session; referred to House Health & Human Services and related committees.
  • Committee action: on 04/23/2025 the committee recommended the measure be held for further study (current status).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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