Latest news with #TexasCompassionateUseProgram
Newsweek
a day ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Texas Expanding Legal Cannabis Access Before Wider Ban
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas could be set to expand access to legal cannabis after a wider ban of THC products was passed in the state House last week. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said on Monday that he had had a "positive conversation" with State Representative Tom Oliverson about expanding eligibility for the state's medical marijuana program, the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). Under the new plans, chronic pain, terminal illness and hospice care would become qualifying conditions for eligibility. Newsweek has contacted Patrick and Oliverson's offices for comment outside of regular working hours. Marijuana plants being grown in Manchaca, Texas. Marijuana plants being grown in Manchaca, Texas. Eric Gay/AP Why It Matters The dual-track legislative push represents a significant shift for Texas, which could soon have some of the strictest THC product bans in the U.S., while also increasing access to medical marijuana for select patients. A poll from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs indicated that more than 60 percent of Texas residents support legalizing marijuana. What To Know On Wednesday last week, the State House voted to ban all consumable THC hemp products. If Senate Bill 3 is signed into law, the TCUP will become the only way for people in the state to access THC products. House Bill 46 is now being pushed forward by lawmakers, as it would expand the number of people eligible for the medical marijuana program. Lieutenant Governor Patrick said on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday that he and Representative Oliverson would be expanding licenses to 12 new dispensary organizations across the state. He added that they would look to add satellite locations in each public health region of the state "for the first time ever," meaning patients would have improved access to the program. In House Bill 46, people with glaucoma, degenerative disc disease and honorably discharged veterans would also be among the individuals eligible for medical marijuana. Lawmakers now face mounting pressure to move the House bill forward, as SB 3 is getting closer to being signed into law. What People Are Saying Lieutenant Governor Patrick wrote in a post on X on Monday: "The Senate and my concern has always been that we don't want to go back to the days of doctors writing prescriptions for anyone who paid them for a prescription for pain pills. "The Texas Medical Board has put in strong guidelines to prevent that from happening over the last decade. Dr. Oliverson presented a new thoughtful plan that the Senate and I can support that will help those in true need of relief. "I thank Dr. Oliverson for working with the Senate to find a truly amazing expansion of TCUP for those in need of help." What Happens Next House Bill 46 is continuing to progress through the legislative process, but is still a number of steps behind Senate Bill 3.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wichita Falls dispensary reacts to potential hemp ban
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — As bills continue to make their way through the Texas legislature, a couple of them may disrupt the THC industry in Texas. Senate Bill 3 would ban the Texas hemp industry. However, this bill doesn't affect the state's compassionate use program. Meanwhile, another bill looks to expand the program, which allows people with certain medical conditions to get THC products at lower doses than what is sold at most dispensaries. SB 3 was introduced to the Texas legislature and was aimed at regulating hemp THC products. However, a last-minute amendment in the House changed the proposed regulations to a total ban. The potential total ban leaves dispensaries in limbo. 'We have about four employees here, so pretty much their positions will be done,' Texas Cannabis Co. Owner Carlos Lopez said. 'We wouldn't be able to sustain the business with, you know, 90% of our inventory being illegal after September.' Lt. Governor Dan Patrick began his push for the ban in 2024.. He cited abuse of the agriculture law and the sale of high-THC products to minors. Lopez believes heavier regulation of cannabis products is a better avenue than a total ban, as his dispensary only sells to people 21 and older. 'Everybody that we dealt with, like here, the metroplex, like wholesale suppliers there, they were avoiding that just to keep from even having this problem.' Without ready access to hemp THC products, Lopez fears the lower dosages through the Texas Compassionate Use Program might not satisfy the needs of the consumer. 'If they can't get the compassionate use right away, like, you know, maybe they might go and put themselves in a risky situation where they're trying to get stuff off the black market,' Lopez said. Lopez hopes the revenue generated by the cannabis industry might be enough to sway lawmakers at the last minute. 'I don't know. We'll just see whenever we get there if it happens or maybe Greg Abbott steps in and vetoes it, and you know he realizes the economic implications of it,' Lopez said. 'That's the main part I'm worried about because we're really losing a lot of money.' Regardless of Abbott's decision, by May 28, Texas dispensaries will know the final outcome of SB 3. Last year, a similar bill in Florida was vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and lawmakers instead chose to adopt more regulatory measures, which allow for the sale of hemp THC products statewide. Although the THC ban has passed the House, another bill, House Bill 46, looks to expand the Compassionate Use Program. It was originally intended to get low THC products to people with certain conditions, such as epilepsy. However, HB 46 would also make products available to people with conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, or traumatic brain injuries. Honorably discharged veterans would also be included, with the state acknowledging that veterans may have particular treatment needs. The bill would also issue dispensing licenses to at least one location in each of the state's public health regions while providing the flexibility for each licensed location to establish satellite locations to cover more ground. As of publication, HB 46 has already passed in the House, and it is now awaiting a decision in the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
