Medical cannabis; administration to terminally ill patients, report.

The bill title was shortened by removing the word 'report' from the description of the bill's subject matter.

The proposing body changed from Delegate Keys-Gamarra (House) to the Senate Committee on Education and Health (Senate).

The date of the proposal was updated from February 16, 2026, to February 26, 2026.

The bill number and session information were reformatted with different line breaks and spacing.

Removed the creation of a new section establishing specific rules for eligible terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis within medical care facilities.

Removed requirements for facilities to create policies prohibiting smoking/vaping, storing cannabis in locked containers, and including usage in medical records.

Modified facility regulations to include specific requirements for organ donation protocols and agreements with procurement organizations.

Added immunity for hospital and nursing home staff from prosecution when possessing or distributing cannabis oil to certified patients.

Changed the effective date provision to rely on federal rescheduling of cannabis rather than a specific date.

The document layout was updated to include line numbers, page headers, and a specific date for the committee action, while the underlying legislative text remained identical.

Removed extensive regulations regarding organ donation protocols, emergency department security plans, and workplace violence reporting systems that were present in the Enrolled version.

Defined 'eligible patient' strictly as an adult Virginia resident diagnosed with a terminal disease confirmed by a healthcare provider after an in-person exam.

Established specific facility policies requiring that medical cannabis use be non-smoking/vaping, stored in locked containers, and documented in patient records.

Changed the effective date from a fixed date to the specific day cannabis is federally rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III.

Added a suspension clause allowing facilities to pause cannabis policies if federal agencies initiate enforcement actions or issue rules prohibiting such use.

The specific new section (32.1-127.4) granting patients the right to use medical cannabis in facilities was removed entirely from the final enrolled text.

New provisions were added to protect hospital employees from prosecution if they possess or distribute cannabis oil to patients with valid certifications.

The bill was amended to include extensive existing regulations regarding hospital construction, staffing, organ donation protocols, and discharge planning for substance-abusing mothers.

The specific definitions for 'patient' and 'terminal illness' found in the draft version are no longer present in the final enrolled act.