AUSTIN, Texas – State lawmakers have taken a significant step towards expanding access to medical cannabis and broadening the legalization of medicinal weed, with legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis with higher THC levels than currently legal. The move is designed to help treat patients with various conditions, including cancer, PTSD, and epilepsy. The bill passed the Texas House of Representatives on March 23, 2023 by a vote of 121-23.
A leading medical weed dispensary in Texas, Compassionate Cultivation, the first licensed medical cannabis distributor, said the move would create a safe way to treat critical pain relief to thousands of Texans as 47,000 Texas locales were enrolled in their cannabis program. With this move, Texas could soon join 36 other states that have already legalized medical cannabis in some form or another.
HB 1805, the approved House bill, will raise THC limits in medical cannabis and broaden the scope of eligible patients. The Texas State Representative changed the house bill to eliminate the current 1% of THC and define a single dose level at 10 milligrams.
Medical cannabis has been found to provide relief to millions of patients who have replaced it with other medicines such as opioids, which have known to cause harmful side effects. The Texas Agriculture Commissioner, the strong vocal proponent of medical cannabis, argues that medical cannabis is much safer than widely prescribed drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycontin, and amphetamines. The commissioner’s advocacy is based in the January interview that medical cannabis offers safe, effective, and non-addictive treatment options for patients suffering from a range of medical conditions.
A cannabis bill that has received bipartisan support has made its way through the legislative process with ease, and now it’s in the House Calendar Committee. Excitement is brewing in the air, as law makers eagerly anticipate when the bill will finally be considered in the Full House. With the public supportively watching, all eyes are on the House Calendars Committee to set a date for the bill’s review. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic bill developments.
Here’s more to read:
Look inside a Texas medical cannabis facility as lawmakers move to expand access:
https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texas-house-moves-toward-medical-cannabis-expansion/
82% of Texans support legalizing medical marijuana, new poll finds
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/02/02/82-of-texans-support-legalizing-medical-marijuana-new-poll-finds/
