Been wishing you could get a Texas Marijuana Card but disappointed that you don’t qualify? Well your luck might be looking up thanks to a recent expansion of the Compassionate Use Program.
Governor Greg Abbott has signed an expansion to Texas’ medical marijuana law, increasing both the number of Texans who can receive medical marijuana and the potency of the marijuana they can access.
Which Conditions Now Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Texas?
The version of the bill that Governor Abbott signed into law adds two conditions to the state’s existing eight, bringing the total now to ten qualifying conditions, which are:
Epilepsy
Seizure disorders
Multiple sclerosis
Spasticity
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Autism
Terminal cancer
An incurable neurodegenerative disease
And the two newest additions to the list:
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Any medical condition that is approved for a research program under Texas’ Health and Safety Code, and for which the patient is receiving treatment under that program
HB 1535 also increases the amount of THC legally allowed in medical marijuana, bringing it from .50% to 1%.
All PTSD Patients Qualify for Medical Marijuana Under HB1535
But in at least one regard, the final version of the law is more permissive than the original House version: When first passed, HB 1535 made PTSD a qualifying condition only for veterans, whereas the final version of the law recognizes all PTSD patients as qualifying for a Texas Marijuana Card.
Medical Marijuana Advocates Say Texas Cannabis Legislation Still Has Room for Improvement
Medical marijuana advocates are pleased to see the state’s program expanding, but disappointed in the compromises it took to get to that expansion.
The director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, Heather Fazio, told MSN, that the law is “unreasonably restrictive.” “While we are glad to see the Compassionate Use Program being expanded,” Fazio said, “it’s disappointing to see Texas inching forward while other states, like Alabama for example, are moving forward with real medical cannabis programs.”
When the original version of the legislation was passed out of the Texas House of Representatives, it included chronic pain as a qualifying condition and expanded permissible THC levels from .5% to 5%.
To get the legislation through the Senate, Representatives had to agree to cut chronic pain and lower the THC ceiling to 1%.
Undeniably, any expansion of medical marijuana rights means more relief for more people, and that’s always a good thing. As Nick Etten, founder of the Veterans Cannabis Project, told the Houston Chronicle, “This new law is an important step forward for veterans, cancer patients, and many other Texans.”
I Think I Might Qualify for a Texas Marijuana Card Now. What Should I Do Next?
If you’re interested in finding out if you qualify for a Texas Marijuana Card and if medical cannabis might be right for you, why not let us help?
Reserve an evaluation with one of our caring marijuana doctors today, and we’ll set you up with an appointment just as soon as we’re cleared to do so. Not only that, but you’ll save $25 on the cost of your evaluation. Together, you and your doctor will explore your options and decide if medical marijuana can give you the same relief it has given countless others.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Texas Marijuana Card, our goal is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.