Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to ensure that health care facilities in Minnesota accommodate the use of cannabis and hemp products by patients. It addresses how these facilities can manage and regulate the use of medical cannabis within their premises while also respecting the legal rights of patients who are authorized to use these products.

Main Provisions

• Facility Restrictions: Health care facilities, including hospice providers, boarding care homes, assisted living facilities, and others licensed under relevant chapters, can adopt reasonable restrictions on the use of medical cannabis and hemp products by patients. These restrictions may include not storing cannabis for patients, requiring patients to store their cannabis in locked containers, and designating specific locations for use.

• Patient Access: Facilities cannot unreasonably limit access to or use of medical cannabis by patients authorized to use it under Minnesota law or patients from other states authorized under their home state laws.

• Federal Compliance: Facilities can suspend cannabis use compliance if federal agencies take action against the facility's participation in the state's medical cannabis program. This includes enforcement actions or new federal rules explicitly prohibiting cannabis use in health care settings.

• Employee Protections: Employees or agents of health care facilities will not violate state law by handling medical cannabis as part of their job duties when providing care to registered patients.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill updates Minnesota Statutes to ensure that health care facilities must reasonably accommodate the use of medical cannabis and hemp products while allowing them to establish certain restrictions.
• It provides protections for health care facility employees involved in the administration of these products, ensuring they are not penalized under state law.

Relevant Terms

• Medical cannabis
• Hemp products
• Health care facilities
• Cannabis program compliance
• Patient registry
• Controlled substance
• Federal enforcement
• Employee protections