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Jake Holschuh
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A bill in the state legislature would allow certain hospital and health-care facility patients in Colorado to use medical marijuana, but there are a few caveats.
According to a 2024 National Library of Medicine review conducted by University of Texas professors, patients in palliative care are “showing a growing interest in the use of cannabis for symptom management,” and a 2022 review in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management states that “positive treatment effects have been reported for some [medical cannabis] products in the palliative care setting,” but that “further high quality evidence is needed” to support clinical use.
A 2018 article in the Annals of Palliative Medicine notes that medical marijuana “will undoubtedly play a larger role in palliative care medicine in the years to come,” but adds that there are still “hurdles preventing a safe and unencumbered system of access for patients.” With the federal government instructed by President Donald Trump to reclassify cannabis to a Schedule III drug, however, that system could be slightly less obstructed.
If passed, Senate Bill 26-007 could take advantage of that federal reform and provide a level of comfort and relief for people entering their final days. Even the bill’s drafters are quick to admit that “certain parameters” must be met, however.
Introduced by State Senator Kyle Mullica on January 14, the first day of the 2026 legislative session, SB 007 would apply to terminally ill patients who are registered with Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Registry. If passed, the measure would only allow patients to use medical marijuana products that do not involve smoking or vaping and are “in accordance” with the recommendation of a patient’s doctor. This could include THC-infused edibles, capsules, lotions, transdermal patches or even suppositories.
The bill would require hospitals and other health-care facilities, such as hospice and senior-care centers, that opt into allowing medical marijuana use to “develop and disseminate written guidelines” for staff, patients and their families, according to SB 007’s language. Any patient or their caretaker with medical marijuana would have to make sure it was stored in a locked container, as well.
But even if the bill passes, hospitals and clinics wouldn’t be forced to comply with the new rules. Under the current wording, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment “shall not require compliance” as a condition to obtain or renew a state license, and facilities may “suspend compliance” if a federal government agency initiates an enforcement action or notification.
According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, the Colorado Hospital Association is the only group currently registered with a position on this new piece of legislation, but that position is the ever-vague “amending,” and the CHA has not responded to a request for comment.
Mullica’s office has not responded to a request for comment, either. A licensed trauma nurse who previously worked at Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in downtown Denver, Mullica is the only practicing clinician in the state legislature. In 2024, he was honored by the American Medical Association for being a “leading advocate for physician-led health care, science and vaccines.”
The bill’s first hearing will be with the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, but there is not date set yet.
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Thomas Mitchell has been the news editor of Westword since February 2024. He’s been with the publication since 2017 and was formerly its cannabis editor. He’s earned numerous awards and accolades for his work, including placing second for the Marijuana Enterprise Reporting Award from the Colorado Society of Professional Journalists in 2018; being named a Top Cannabis Journalist by Leafbuyer in 2020; and placing first for the College Sports Writing Award from the Arizona Press Club in 2014. His prior work experience includes Arizona Republic, Inman News and Fox Sports.
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