Last night (6/1) was a big deadline for the House and Senate to approved Rep. Ken King’s HB 46. With bipartisan support, the bill was approved in time and will significantly expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program. This is great news for the MANY Texas patients who will now qualify for legal access to medical cannabis!
House Bill 46 adds the following qualifying conditions: chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, Crohn’s disease, and any terminal illness or condition for which a patient is receiving hospice or palliative care. The new law allows the use of cannabis patches, lotions, and suppositories as well as approved inhalers, nebulizers, and vaping devices. Prescriptions will be valid for one year, with (4) 90-day supply refills. Products may contain up to 10mg/serving and 1gram/package total THC.
To ensure adequate patient access, HB 46 instructs the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue 15 dispensing licenses, which must be located strategically within Texas’ public health regions. The bill also allows dispensing organizations to open approved satellite locations.
If approved by the governor, HB 46 would go into effect on September 1, 2025 and all necessary rules must be adopted by October 1, 2025. Nine new business must be licensed by Dec. 1, 2025 and an additional 3 new licenses must be issued by April 1, 2026. (Full Bill Overview and Text)