PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania House has passed a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to access medical marijuana products for pain management even if they are being treated in a hospital.
To demonstrate the need for the policy, which would allow medical marijuana for hospitalized terminal patients as long as it doesn’t disturb others, Western Pennsylvania Democrat Dan Frankel shared the story of a devoted father, 41-year-old Ryan Bartel, who was in the hospital with stage four pancreatic cancer when he begged his dad to get him off fentanyl.
“He didn't want to spend his last week sleeping, but that was not easy to do. Ryan's doctors believed medical cannabis would help him, but the hospital where he was receiving the care would not allow it,” Frankel said.
Bartel’s family had him transferred, and Frankel said the treatment made “a profound difference.”
“During the final weeks of his life, Ryan was awake. He was able to speak with his loved ones, and he was able to say goodbye,” Frankel said.
“Many of us in this chamber have sat beside the bed of a loved one in their final hours. We know the value of one more conversation, one more squeeze of the hand, one more chance to say, ‘I love you,’” he said.
The bill heads to the State Senate after passing the State House with 72 Republicans joining all Democrats in voting in favor.
