Connecticut Bill Would Require Hospitals and Nursing Homes to Allow Medical Marijuana for Terminally Ill Patients

OG article by Anthony Martinelli

February 18, 2026

Connecticut’s House Bill 5242, raised by the Joint Committee on Public Health, would require hospitals, nursing homes, hospice inpatient facilities, and short-term hospital special hospices to allow terminally ill medical marijuana patients to use their medicine on-site. It applies to registered patients certified by their physician as terminally ill (prognosis of one year or less). Facilities must permit forms like tinctures, edibles, and topicals, but prohibit smoking and vaping. Reasonable restrictions are allowed, such as locked storage for safety. Providers must document use, verify registration, and create/distribute written guidelines. A federal safeguard permits suspending compliance if enforcement actions arise from agencies like the DOJ or CMS, but refusal cannot be based solely on marijuana’s Schedule I status. If enacted, the law would take effect October 1, 2026. The proposal aims to support end-of-life care access while balancing facility policies and potential federal conflicts.