Medical Cannabis

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The Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) was established in 2015. The Legislature expanded the program in 2019 and again in 2021, providing access to low-THC (1%) cannabis for those with certain medical conditions.

Top Recommendations to Make TCUP More Inclusive:

• Allow doctors decide if a patient could benefit from medical cannabis. At minimum, allow pain patients to use cannabis as an alternative to opioids.
• Allow doctors to decide what THC dosing is right for each patient; Remove THC limit and shift from %THC by dry weight to #mg per serving. 
• License more businesses without required vertical integration. Allow multiple secure dispensing locations for each licensed business.
• Allow third party lab testing. Independent laboratories are already licensed and regulated. Allowing independent testing ensures consumer protection.

Qualifying Conditions

Current Law: PTSD, autism, cancer, epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, incurable neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, or medical conditions approved for research by the commissioner of the Department of State Health Services.

Recommendation: Allow doctors to decide if cannabis can help a particular patient. At minimum, add the following conditions:

• Chronic Pain (alternative to opioids)
• HIV/AIDS and Wasting or Cachexia
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis 
• Severe or persistent nausea

Types of Medicine

Current Law: Low-THC, limited to 1% by weight.

Recommendation: 

• Allow doctors to decide what THC dosing is right for each patient.
• Remove THC limit and shift from %THC by dry weight to #mg per serving. 
• Allow vaporization for rapid uptake and immediate relief for patients.

Additional Policy Recommendations:

• “Reciprocity”: Add protections for patients visiting from and registered in other states
• Allow all licensed physicians to recommend cannabis and certify qualifying patients. 
• Patient Protections: Secure gun rights, protect child custody, eliminate state discrimination (benefits, drivers license, professional license, state employment), ensure organ transplant eligibility.
• Cannabis business licensing fees are extraordinarily high. Reasonable fees would protect small business access to the market and keep cannabis medicine from being cost prohibitive. 
• Instruct DPS to issue additional licenses to qualifying applicants and allow vertical integration.