Texas

House Advances Bipartisan Bill to Broaden Medical Marijuana Access in Texas

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player…

The Texas House gave initial approval to a bipartisan bill (House Bill 46) expanding the state’s medical marijuana program in a 118-16 vote. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Ken King (R) and Penny Morales Shaw (D) and now awaits a third reading before moving to the Senate.

The measure would:

  • Expand product types to include patches, lotions, suppositories, inhalers, nebulizers, and vaping devices.
  • Add qualifying conditions: chronic pain, glaucoma, TBI, spinal neuropathy, Crohn’s disease, degenerative disc disease, and terminal illnesses in hospice or palliative care.
  • Authorize DSHS to expand the list of conditions further.
  • Mandate DPS to issue 11 dispensary licenses across public health regions and permit satellite locations.

The bill also requires the Department of Public Safety to issue 11 dispensary licenses, one for each public health region, and permits satellite dispensary locations. Physicians would also need to report cannabis recommendations to the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, as reported by Marijuana Moment.

Currently, Texas only allows low-THC, non-smokable cannabis for patients with eight specific conditions under the 2015 Compassionate Use Act. Advocates like Heather Fazio of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center praised the legislation as a long-overdue improvement to an overly restrictive program. 

While medical expansion advances, the Senate passed a separate bill to prevent cities from placing decriminalization measures on local ballots, a response to reforms already adopted in places like Austin and San Marcos. Governor Greg Abbott opposes local cannabis measures, warning they create “chaos.” Meanwhile, the Senate approved a bill that could effectively end the state’s hemp industry, and Rep. Joe Moody has reintroduced a statewide decriminalization proposal. The House also passed two bills (House Bill 4014 and House Bill 4813) to expedite access to psychedelic therapy if federally approved.

RA Staff

Written by RA News staff.

Recent Posts

FBI Probes Minneapolis School Shooting as Anti-Catholic Hate Crime

The FBI has opened a hate crime and domestic terrorism investigation into Wednesday’s school shooting…

9 hours ago

Patrick Signals Final Week as Second Special Session Winds Down

When Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggested in early August that the Legislature was entering its…

14 hours ago

Abbott Targets Voter Registration Change Passed Earlier This Year

Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking to roll back a voter registration provision he signed into…

2 days ago

House Democrats’ frustration with STAAR bill highlights divide over how new test should look

Standing across from House Democrats on the chamber floor Tuesday, Rep. Brad Buckley defended his…

2 days ago

Texas House Approves Bill Aimed to Limit City, County Property Taxes

DALLAS — The Texas House pushed forward a proposal Monday aimed at containing property tax…

3 days ago

Texas Bill Could Block Public Access to Uvalde Shooting Records

A new proposal making its way through the Texas Legislature could significantly limit public access…

3 days ago

This website uses cookies.