ALBANY, NY — In New York, advocates are rallying behind Assembly Bill 2025 A8469, a proposal that would allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in hospitals and nursing homes. Modeled after California’s groundbreaking Ryan’s Law, the bill represents a growing movement to ensure compassionate cannabis access for patients in their final stages of life.
Assembly Bill A8469, sponsored by Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale), is currently under review by the New York State Assembly’s Health Committee. If passed, the legislation would authorize the administration of medical cannabis in state-licensed healthcare facilities for qualifying terminal patients, a practice still prohibited in most of the U.S., even in states with robust medical cannabis programs.
A Father’s Mission, A Son’s Legacy
The bill’s namesake, Ryan’s Law, was originally enacted in California in 2021 following the death of 42-year-old Ryan Bartell, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Denied medical cannabis in his first hospital setting, Ryan suffered through powerful opioids that left him sedated and disconnected during his final days. His father, Jim Bartell, watched helplessly.
“The morphine took away his ability to communicate with us in the last days of his life,” Jim Bartell expressed. “Once he was moved to a facility that allowed cannabis, Ryan was awake, comfortable, and able to have meaningful conversations. That’s the memory I’ll always carry, and it’s what every family deserves.”
Since California’s passage of SB 311 (Ryan’s Law), similar efforts have taken shape across the country. Maryland and North Dakota have passed versions of the law, and New York and Pennsylvania are now on the precipice of joining that movement.
A Nationwide Movement with Setbacks
While New York makes headway, not all states have seen progress. In Oregon, HB 3214, a Ryan’s Law-style bill, passed the House but ultimately stalled in the Senate. Rhode Island’s H5630 faced a similar fate, dying in committee without a vote.
“These bills failing this year is a setback, but it’s not the end,” Bartell said. “We are committed to bringing Ryan’s Law to every state with a medical cannabis program. Terminally ill patients deserve dignity, no matter what state they live in.”
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 38 states currently permit some form of medical cannabis. But in nearly all of them, cannabis is still banned in hospital or nursing home settings due to lingering federal prohibitions, a conflict that leaves many patients without access in the places they need it most.
A Bill with Bipartisan Appeal
Ryan’s Law has proven to be a rare bipartisan issue, appealing to both compassionate care advocates and veterans’ organizations. In New York, A8469 has picked up momentum with stakeholders including hospice workers, patient rights groups, and cannabis policy organizations expressing support.
Simultaneously, Pennsylvania lawmakers are weighing their own version of the bill. Senate Bill 1035, introduced earlier this year, is also currently in committee. Meanwhile, in Virginia and New Jersey, advocacy teams are actively assembling coalitions to draft and sponsor Ryan’s Law legislation in the upcoming session.
“These aren’t red state or blue state issues,” Bartell emphasized. “This is about compassion. This is about humanity. And this is about allowing people to make choices about how they live their final days with dignity, and without suffering.”
Families Leading the Charge
Much of the advocacy for Ryan’s Law-style bills has been led not by lobbyists, but by families and caregivers who’ve witnessed the suffering firsthand. In many states, Bartell and other parent advocates have testified in hearings, provided research, and helped draft bill language.
“Jim Bartell has become the face of a national movement,” said Eulenthius Alexander, spokesperson for the Cannabis 4 The Cause, a nonprofit focused on cannabis education events. “He’s turned personal tragedy into policy, and the impact will be felt for generations.”
The path to passing Ryan’s Law in every state is still long. Hospitals remain cautious, citing conflicting federal drug policy. Administrators worry about liability and potential loss of Medicare funding. But supporters argue that the law is carefully crafted to include clear guidelines and facility discretion.
“This law doesn’t force any hospital to allow cannabis, which some cannabis advocates frown upon” Bartell clarified. “The law removes the federal blanket prohibition by allowing each facility to evaluate requests based on medical need, just like they do with any other treatment.”
Looking Ahead
As New York Assembly Bill A8469 inches forward in committee, patient advocates are watching closely. If passed, New York would become the fourth state to implement a version of Ryan’s Law, a milestone that could inspire others to follow.
“We won’t stop until Ryan’s Law is the standard of care in every medical cannabis state,” said Bartell. “No one should suffer needlessly in their final days.”
More about Ryan’s Law from JM Balbuena here.
JM Balbuena is an accomplished author, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, known for her leadership in the cannabis industry. As the founder of Synergy, a dynamic multimedia organization and advocacy lifestyle brand, she channels her passion for storytelling and social change. Balbuena is also the executive director of the Ryan’s Law Foundation, championing cannabis advocacy for terminally ill patients. Her literary works include the bestselling book ‘The Successful Canna-Preneur’ and her latest release, Green Renaissance. In 2024, she directed and produced the award-winning documentary Roll Up For Equity, which highlights the challenges of implementing a social equity program in San Diego’s cannabis sector. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, JM continues to make an impact in the global cannabis market through collaboration and innovation.
