Latest news with #medicalmarijuana
Bloomberg
7 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Texas Wants to Kill a Cannabis Boom It Accidentally Helped Stoke
Texas is on the cusp of banning all recreational THC products after lawmakers passed a bill to reverse the unintended effects of hemp laws that led to a boom in shops selling gummies, joints, vapes and drinks that create a similar high to marijuana. The proposal, awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature, would outlaw almost all consumable hemp products except for non-psychoactive CBD and CBG. A separate measure expanding the state's medical use program for THC — the psychoactive molecule found in marijuana and at weaker concentrations in hemp — is also nearing final approval.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Texas Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Program Expansion Bill
Texas lawmakers have approved legislation to significantly expand the state's medical marijuana ... More program, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbot for his consideration. Texas lawmakers on Sunday approved legislation to significantly expand the state's medical marijuana program. After a conference committee reached a deal over the weekend, lawmakers passed a compromise bill that rectified differences in legislation passed last month by the Texas Senate and the state House of Representatives. The House passed the compromise medical cannabis program expansion bill by a vote of 138-1, while the Senate approved the measure with a unanimous 31-0 vote, according to a report from online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment. The legislation now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration. The bill expands the list of conditions that qualify a patient to use medical marijuana, adding chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would qualify patients for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the current state medical cannabis program is known. The legislation also increases the types of cannabis products authorized by the TCUP, adding medical marijuana patches and topicals, as well as suppositories, approved inhalers, nebulizers and vaping devices. The bill also directs the state Department of Public Safety to increase the number of medical cannabis business licenses from three to 15. Licensed providers would also be allowed to operate approved satellite locations. The House version of the bill, HB 46, was approved by the chamber on May 13. The Senate passed an amended version on May 27, but House lawmakers declined to concur to the changes. A conference committee to iron out the differences agreed on the final compromise version over the weekend, leading to the House and Senate votes on Sunday. Republican Rep. Tony Tinderholt, who served on the conference committee, told his colleagues in the House that the legislation strengthens and expands the state's medical cannabis program. 'The veterans out there watching need to know that the Texas Compassionate Use Program has been protected,' Tinderholt said, KXAN television news reported. 'We actually got a little more than what we thought we'd get out of that conference committee,' he added. 'Veterans are covered, chronic pain is covered, and this bill will cover all of the things that we wanted when it went over to the Senate and there were modifications made.' The passage of the compromise medical marijuana program expansion bill was welcomed by cannabis policy reform advocates, including members of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center. 'For 10 years, most patients have been excluded from participating in the Compassionate Use Program,' Heather Fazio, executive director of the group, told Marijuana Moment. 'We're happy to see that the legislature is finally expanding the program in a meaningful way.' The Texas legislature's approval of the medical marijuana program expansion bill came only days after lawmakers passed legislation (SB 3) to ban consumable hemp products with any amount of THC. These products, which have less than 0.3% THC under federal law, retain other potentially beneficial cannabis compounds. Peter Barsoom, founder and CEO of 1906, a manufacturer of low-dose, fast-acting cannabis edibles, said that Texas lacks a consistent cannabis policy. 'Texas is sending a mixed message - on one hand, it's recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis by expanding access, and on the other, it's banning products that many rely on for relief,' Barsoom writes in an emailed statement. 'This type of inconsistency not only confuses consumers but also undermines trust in the system. We know prohibition is a policy failure. What we need is sensible regulation that provides consumers access to safe, legal, and effective hemp-derived products, especially for veterans, people living with chronic pain, and everyday consumers looking for alternatives to pharmaceuticals.' Both measures now head to Abbott for consideration. The Texas Hemp Business Council and its members and supporters are calling on the governor to veto SB 3.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Medical cannabis expansion bill adds chronic pain patients, advances to Governor
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – With time running out in the legislative session, lawmakers reached a deal to expand the state's medical marijuana program. Sunday evening, both the House and Senate approved a conference committee agreement on House Bill 46, relating to the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). The legislation calls for expanding the number of licensed cannabis providers in the TCUP from three to 15. It also allows patients with chronic pain and patients with traumatic brain injuries to take part in the program. The issue of how to define chronic pain for TCUP eligibility was a point of difference between the House and Senate. Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, who authored HB 46 spoke about the differences Sunday as he laid out the conference committee report. 'The Senate had defined chronic pain as a pain that continues for more than 90 days after a prescription of an opioid. This was not acceptable, so the conference committee agreed that to define chronic pain as persistent, severe pain that lasts more than 90 days for which THC is a viable method of treatment,' King said. King said that veterans are not specifically listed as eligible for the program. Similarly, he said that lawmakers were not able to reach agreement on conditions like glaucoma, degenerative disc disease, and spinal neuropathy. However, King said the definition of chronic pain would cover most of those patients. TCUP launched in 2015 for epileptic children and has since slowly grown to include more people, including those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. It provides low-THC cannabis to patients with a proper prescription from a physician. There are currently three licensed dispensing organizations that cultivate and deliver the products to patients. Nico Richardson is the CEO of Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, one of the dispensing organizations based in south Austin. Richardson says one of the main issues for the TCUP is accessibility. He says when a patient makes an order they will either have to drive to the main facility of the organization, meet the organization at a pick-up location, or have the product delivered to their house. The size of Texas creates a long waiting period for the patients, Richardson explained. Expanding the number of providers seeks to serve patients in a more effective and timely manner. The push to expand TCUP gained attention in recent weeks as separate legislation advanced to ban over-the-counter products containing hemp-based THC. THC is the compound in cannabis that causes a high feeling. Legislation passed by both the House and Senate would ban THC products, like vapes, snacks, and drinks currently sold in stores around the state. Some critics of the ban raised concern about people who use the products to treat pain. State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, a Democrat from Houston, raised concerns earlier this month during debate on the House floor for the veteran community. 'You're taking away potentially their freedom to choose this product that in their own words saved their lives,' Morales Shaw said from the back microphone. State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, who wrote the amendment that changed the bill from a regulation on THC to a complete ban, sympathized with those concerns but argued the proper help for veterans would need to come from the state's regulated TCUP. 'I don't ever want somebody to be denied access to a medication that may be a benefit,' Oliverson said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick voiced support for the THC ban, but also called for expanding TCUP, saying those who need THC for medical use would get it in a controlled way. 'It will be the largest medical cannabis program, regulated medical cannabis program in the country, and probably the most well-designed,' State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock said. Both the THC ban and the TCUP expansion are now on the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott. He has until June 22 to decide whether to sign the legislation, veto, or let it go into effect without his signature. Supporters of the TCUP expansion are optimistic the legislation will become law. 'The veterans out there watching need to know that the Texas Compassionate Use Program has been protected,' Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, said while speaking in the chamber. He was one of the House members on the conference committee. 'We actually got a little more than what we thought we'd get out of that conference committee,' Tinderholt said. 'Veterans are covered, chronic pain is covered, and this bill will cover all of the things that we wanted when it went over to the Senate and there were modifications made.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Local Veteran reacts to incoming changes to medical marijuana legislation
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 46 have been the topics of heated debates through this most recent legislative session. The two bills have the state's medical marijuana industry hanging in the balance, and veterans are one of the groups directly affected. Local veteran Michael Kurtz doesn't use medical marijuana himself. He instead sees it as a Band-Aid solution, but it is important to his comrades. 'While it may produce a temporary fix for PTSD and anxiety, it generally just… it won't heal the issue. It won't fix the problem,' Kurtz said. While the legislature aims to ban the sale and possession of hemp THC products with SB 3, HB 46 is aiming to expand the state's Compassionate Use Program. Kurtz sees it as a correction of previous hasty medical marijuana legislation, and the two bills still might not be the final solution to the state's marijuana situation. 'How do you balance that to where we're regulating enough or we're not regulating enough and now we're regulating too much; we're not regulating enough,' Kurtz said. 'And that's the hard part, I think.' Senator Charles Perry authored the expansion of the Compassionate Use Program. The program allows for the use of medical marijuana but heavily regulates its distribution and THC content. 'It will be the largest cannabis… medical cannabis program regulated in the country, and probably the most well-designed,' Perry said. The expansion isn't without its critics either. Carlos Lopez, a dispensary owner in Wichita Falls, is wary of what might happen if the new and improved Compassionate Use Program isn't up to snuff by the time the ban goes into effect. '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, you know,' Lopez said. With both bills still awaiting approval, Kurtz hopes veterans can find a more permanent solution to whatever ails them. 'They need to find a community,' Kurtz said. 'And really, what it boils down to is if you have a community, you have somebody to talk to, somebody to communicate with. And that in general will help with, you know, reducing anxiety and reducing depression and things like that.' As the legislative session draws to a close, veterans' eyes will all be on SB-3 and HB-46 as they await final approval from Governor Abbott. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
National Post
7 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Cresco Labs Deepens Core Market Presence with New Sunnyside in Chippewa Township, Beaver Falls, PA
Article content CHICAGO — Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) (FSE: 6CQ) ('Cresco Labs' or the 'Company'), today announced the grand opening of Sunnyside Chippewa in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Article content Article content 'Pennsylvania continues to be a standout market for us, and this new Sunnyside location reinforces our commitment to serving patients with the highest-quality products and retail experience,' said Charlie Bachtell, CEO of Cresco Labs. 'We're going deeper in our core states—like Pennsylvania—where we are number one in branded market share, with a strong retail presence and the ability to drive significant operating leverage.' Article content Located at 2634 Darlington Road in Beaver Falls, Sunnyside is just 1.5 miles northwest of I-376 and easily accessible from nearby towns such as New Brighton, West Mayfield, and New Beaver. Article content Active patients and caregivers can place orders in store or online at Dispensary hours are Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Article content About Cresco Labs Inc. Article content Cresco Labs' mission is to normalize and professionalize the medical marijuana industry through a CPG approach to building national brands and a customer-focused retail experience, while acting as a steward for the industry on legislative and regulatory-focused initiatives. As a leader in cultivation, production and branded product distribution, the Company is leveraging its scale and agility to grow its portfolio of brands that include Cresco, High Supply, FloraCal, Good News, Wonder Wellness Co., Mindy's and Remedi, on a national level. The Company also operates highly productive dispensaries nationally under the Sunnyside brand that focus on building patient and consumer trust and delivering ongoing education and convenience in a wonderfully traditional retail experience. Through year-round policy, community outreach and SEED initiative efforts, Cresco Labs embraces the responsibility to support communities through authentic engagement, economic opportunity, investment, workforce development and legislative initiatives designed to create the most responsible, respectable and robust medical marijuana industry possible. Learn more about Cresco Labs' journey by visiting or following the Company on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Article content This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain n statements that may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, 'forward-looking statements'). Such forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of those forms or other comparable terms. The Company's forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks discussed under 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR, other documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Because of these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. No assurances are given as to the future trading price or trading volumes of Cresco Labs' shares, nor as to the Company's financial performance in future financial periods. The Company does not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the Company's forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, any future event or otherwise. Except as otherwise indicated, this press release speaks as of the date hereof. The distribution of this press release does not imply that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company after the date hereof or create any duty or commitment to update or supplement any information provided in this press release or otherwise. 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