Texas Lawmakers Pass Bill to Expand Medical Marijuana Program
The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at expanding the state’s medical marijuana program, known as the Compassionate-Use Program. The bill, House Bill 46, would allow patients to use low-THC cannabis products, such as patches, lotions, inhalers, and vapes, if a physician determines it is medically necessary.
The bill would also expand the program to include additional conditions, including chronic pain, glaucoma, traumatic brain injury, spinal neuropathy, Crohn’s disease, and degenerative disc disease. Additionally, honorably discharged veterans who are experiencing symptoms related to their service would be eligible to participate in the program.
The bill also aims to improve access to dispensaries for patients in the program. It would establish 11 licensed dispensaries in 11 regions across Texas and allow dispensaries to operate satellite locations with approval from the state.
Supporters of the bill argue that it would provide much-needed relief to patients who struggle to access the medicine they are legally allowed to receive. “Texans still struggle to get access to the medicine they’re legally allowed to receive,” said Rep. Ken King, one of the authors of the bill. “There are not enough dispensing organizations licensed in the state, and current law limits how and where the products can be stored and distributed.”
The bill now faces an uncertain fate in the Texas Senate, where it will need to be passed before it can become law. Its companion bill, Senate Bill 1505, is currently in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
The Compassionate-Use Program was established in 2015 to allow doctors to prescribe low-THC marijuana for patients with epilepsy. Since then, the program has been expanded to include additional conditions, including multiple sclerosis, spasticity, and autism. However, advocates argue that the program still has significant limitations, including a lack of access to dispensaries and a limited range of available products.
