Cannabis Use in Hospice and Palliative Care
Salem, OR – Compassionate Oregon has reintroduced House Bill 3214 for the 2025 Legislative Session, renewing efforts to allow the use of cannabis as an alternative to opioids in hospice and palliative care settings. The bill builds upon previous legislation from 2023 and seeks to mandate that hospice, palliative care, home healthcare organizations, and residential care facilities permit the use of cannabis for patients in end-of-life care.
Under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP), registered cardholders are allowed to designate a primary caregiver to assist with matters related to medical cannabis, including production, processing, and administration of cannabinoid products. Oregon law also permits an OMMP cardholder to designate an organization or facility providing hospice, palliative, or home health care services as an additional caregiver.
To formalize this designation, the cardholder must notify the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which is responsible for issuing medical marijuana cards. Upon notification, the OHA sends an Organizational or Facility Caregiver Attestation form to the designated facility. The organization must then attest to its responsibility for the patient’s care and assign a staff member as the designated caregiver. Once completed, the OHA issues a caregiver card to the designated staff member, granting them the same responsibilities as a primary caregiver.
House Bill 3214 mandates that facilities establish written policies for cannabis use, covering proper handling, storage, administration, and disposal of unused cannabis products after a patient’s passing. Additionally, the bill requires hospice and palliative care organizations to provide training—either virtual or in-person—on cannabis pharmacology, dosing strategies, delivery methods such as edibles, extracts, as well as identifying potential contraindications and drug interactions.
If adopted, House Bill 3214 will bring hospice cannabis use out of the shadows, replacing the current informal and inconsistent practices with a clear, regulated protocol. This shift will empower patients and families to make informed care decisions, allowing for improved quality of life and an alternative to excessive sedation during end-of-life care.
The bill represents a significant step toward integrating cannabis into Oregon’s healthcare system, ensuring that patients have access to compassionate and individualized care options in their final days.