FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, TX — Governor Greg Abbott (R) just signed HB 46 into law on Saturday, making Texas the 40th state to legalize cannabis for medical use. This bill is a pretty big deal, significantly expanding the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), which many felt was previously too limited to meet the Marijuana Policy Project’s standards for a solid medical cannabis state.
Here’s a look at the key improvements to TCUP under HB 46:
- More Qualifying Conditions: Good news! Chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, and traumatic brain injury are now on the list.
- Diverse Delivery Methods: Patients now have more options, including lotions, patches, suppositories, and even pulmonary inhalation with approved devices (under doctor’s direction, of course).
- Increased THC Limits: The old 1% THC by weight limit is out. Now, it’s a maximum of 10 milligrams per dose, with a package not to exceed 1 gram of THC.
- More Dispensing Organizations: The Department of Public Safety is set to issue 12 new licenses, bringing the total to 15 dispensing organizations. They’ll need to be up and running within 24 months of getting their license.
Kevin Caldwell, Southeast Legislative Manager at the Marijuana Policy Project, put it well: “For too long, the existing Texas Compassionate Use Program has been severely limited, leaving countless Texans without the relief they desperately need. Texans have spoken, and their voices have been heard. HB 46 will expand access to medical cannabis, a relatively safe and effective treatment option that has long been sought by patients suffering from pain and several other serious medical conditions.”
With Texas now on board, 40 states and Washington, D.C. have functional medical cannabis laws. And it’s no surprise, polling consistently shows widespread public support for allowing seriously ill patients to use cannabis for medical purposes with their doctors’ approval.
Lauren Daly, Interim Executive Director at the Marijuana Policy Project, added, “Following in the footsteps of 39 other states, Texas has embraced a commonsense policy that will ensure that Texans facing serious medical conditions have access to a medicine that’s already successfully improving lives nationwide. This new law is a direct result of overwhelming public support, acknowledging medical cannabis as a valuable, scientifically-supported option for managing chronic pain and debilitating illnesses.”
Want the full scoop on HB 46? You can find a summary here.
