Representative Susan R. Donovan (D), Rhode Island House of Representatives House Committee on Health & Human Services Hearing April 23, 2025

Providence, RI — In a major step toward expanding healthcare options, Rhode Island’s House Committee of Health and Human Services voted unanimously on April 23, 2025, to advance House Bill No. 5630 to the next stage of the legislative process.

House Bill No. 5630 is modeled after Ryan’s Law, officially titled the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act. The legislation would require healthcare facilities located in Little Rhody to allow the use of non-smokable medical cannabis for terminally ill patients within hospice and palliative care facilities. The move is reflective of a growing national movement to include medical cannabis as a treatment option in end-of-life care. The legislation mirrors California’s SB 311 (also known as Ryan’s Law) passed in 2021.

The momentum behind the bill is largely credited to Jim Bartell, founder and president of the Ryan’s Law Foundation, and father of Ryan Bartell, whose battle with terminal cancer inspired the original legislation. “Leveraging the momentum we have generated in the past year; we are very confident that 20 states that have already legalized some form of medical cannabis will consider passing Ryan’s Law in the next 18 months,” Bartell explained. 

During his testimony before the committee, Bartell expressed “The saddest day of my life was watching my son Ryan take his final breath. Before accessing medical cannabis, he was sedated on fentanyl and morphine, sleeping more than 20 hours per day. Medical cannabis gave us the gift of spending meaningful, awake, and pain-free moments together. Our mission is to ensure that patients and families across the country have the same opportunity.”

Legal expert Ken Sobel, who co-authored the Rhode Island bill, emphasized the broader significance of the legislation. “In addition to providing compassionate care to our most vulnerable citizens—those who are terminally ill and suffering—Ryan’s Law will force the conventional healthcare system to at least co-exist with or accept the benefits that cannabis medicine provides, which, hopefully, will lead to relief from pain and suffering and expand therapy options of all patients who will benefit from this law,” Sobel said.

This legislative movement mirrors wider public sentiment within the U.S. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 88% of U.S. adults overwhelmingly support the legalization of cannabis for either medical or recreational use. Approximately a third (32%) are in favor of legalization solely for medical use. About 57% of Americans believe cannabis should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes. Conversely, around one in ten U.S. adults believe cannabis should not be legalized. These finding highlight the overwhelming acceptance of cannabis as a legitimate medical treatment all across the country, strengthening the case for compassionate-use laws such as Ryan’s Law.

Source: http://www.pewresearch.org

The pharmaceutical community likewise extends support toward the bill. According to Jill Simonian from the Pharmacists’ Cannabis Coalition of California, the bill represents “a landmark step,” also stating, “This legislation exemplifies the state’s innovative role in healthcare reform, empowering patients nationwide with similar measures.”

Representative Susan R. Donovan first introduced the bill on February 26, 2025, and successfully engaged co-sponsors. Strong advocacy as well as common bipartisan support have marked the bill’s crossing through the legislative process in the Ocean State. 

Final enactment is likely to be later this year. The next expected steps include full House and the Senate consideration.If passed, Rhode Island will join an increasing number of states ensuring terminally ill patients can access medicinal cannabis options to ease symptoms and manage pain, setting a precedent for healthcare systems nationwide.