Is Texas opening up to medical cannabis?

Will Texas, one of the most conservative U.S. states when it comes to medical cannabis, finally expand access to cannabis-based medications a little more?

So far, Only cannabis-based products are permitted with a THC content not exceeding 1%. Furthermore, they should only be recommended for a list of nine conditions: epilepsy, convulsive disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, or an incurable neurodegenerative disease.

But a recent bill could make it easier for patients to access cannabis.

Texas lawmakers thus approved the measure last week a bill of law which would allow all doctors to recommend the use of cannabis to patients suffering from chronic pain who would otherwise be treated with prescription opioids.

The bill introduced by Republican Representative Stephanie Klick was approved by the House of Representatives Public Health Committee about a week after members heard testimony on the proposal during an initial hearing.

The bill to expand the medical cannabis program would replace the 1% THC limit for the’cannabis oil by a volumetric dose of 10 milligrams. As originally proposed, the bill would have raised the limit to 5% of THC, but the committee adopted a substitute amendment that provides for a switch to the volumetric dose method.

It would also add a tenth condition that would allow patients to receive cannabis-based products with low THC content: «A condition that causes chronic pain, for which a doctor would otherwise prescribe an opioid.»

The bill also aims to make it easier to add other conditions medical criteria for determining patient eligibility for the cannabis program through regulations rather than laws. If passed, the bill will take effect on September 1, 2023.

This development comes a few weeks after another House of Representatives committee unanimously approved a bill aimed at decriminalize cannabis possession in the state while providing a mechanism for deleting records.