Compassionate Oregon Clears the Way for Cannabis in Hospice and Residential Care
HB 4142, Oregon’s Ryan’s Law, signed into law April 7, 2026; takes effect in June 1, 2026.
On April 7th Governor Tina Kotek signed HB 4142, Ryan’s Law for Oregon into law that
requires that “An organization or residential facility designated under ORS 475C.791
shall: (a) Allow a patient or resident described in subsection (4) of this section of the
organization or residential facility to engage in the medical use of marijuana on the
premises of the organization or residential facility.”
The bill also requires organizations and facilities to create written policy related to it use
and to provide educational training for those direct care staff who are approved by the
Oregon Health Authority as “organizational or facility caregivers.”
Oregon statute was also amended to add “the need for hospice, palliative care, comfort
care or other symptom management, including comprehensive pain management” to
the list of debilitating conditions enabling those entering hospice, assisted living, or long-
term care who have been using cannabis can now qualify for an OMMP card and
continue using cannabis in end-of-life or long-term residential care.
The path to the Governor’s desk for Ryan’s Law has been long and complicated but
after five years and three legislative sessions the bill has now become law.
Thanks to Representative Farrah Chaichi, her chief of staff Anne Mare Backstrom and
Representative Thuy Tran who devoted their tireless efforts to getting this legislation
across the finish line.