Senate Bill No. 270, introduced by Senator Jackson-Andrews, aims to provide terminally ill patients in healthcare facilities with access to medical marijuana. The bill enacts R.S. 40:1046.5, which outlines definitions for "healthcare facility," "medical marijuana," and "patient." It mandates that healthcare facilities allow the use of medical marijuana by terminally ill patients, while also establishing specific requirements such as prohibiting smoking or vaping, documenting the use in medical records, and ensuring secure storage of the marijuana. Additionally, the bill clarifies that healthcare facilities are not required to provide recommendations for medical marijuana or include it in discharge plans.

The proposed law also includes provisions that allow healthcare facilities to suspend compliance if federal agencies take enforcement actions or issue prohibitions against the use of medical marijuana. Furthermore, it states that a facility cannot deny a terminally ill patient's use of medical marijuana solely based on its classification as a Schedule I drug. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026, and compliance with its provisions will not be a condition for obtaining or renewing a healthcare facility's license.