State
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texas lawmakers move to expand state’s medical cannabis program
More details
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made outlawing all other consumable THC products one of his signature priorities this legislative session. He told journal- ists May 28 that Senate Bill 3, the proposed THC ban, would “save an entire generation [from] being hooked on drugs,” accusing those against the ban of being pro t-motivated. “They don’t care about the health of children— they care about making a pro t,” Patrick said May 28. “But we want to respond to them, so we have expanded [the Compassionate Use Program].” Earlier in May, House members said the con- sumable THC ban proposed by Senate Bill 3 would close a “loophole” state lawmakers inadvertently created in 2019, when they legalized hemp sales in an attempt to boost the agricultural industry.
said Nico Richardson, CEO of the dispensary Texas Original. “[The program] is not set up to succeed right now, and it’s not set up to provide reasonable access to patients,” Richardson told Community Impact on April 25. “The law that we operate under says that we have to provide reasonable access to patients across Texas, and our regulations are not allowing us to do that.” Additionally, legislation that would ban the possession, sale and manufacture of all other hemp-derived THC products in Texas was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk on May 27.
Texas senators voted May 27 to expand eligibility for low-THC medical cannabis prescriptions, putting the state on track to build out an existing program that some Texans have said does not currently help enough people. The bill’s nal details will be determined behind closed doors, House members announced May 30. House Bill 46 would increase the conditions eligible for Texas’ Compassionate Use Program and allow doctors to begin prescribing aerosol and vaporized medical cannabis products, such as inhalers and vaping devices. The bill would allow 12 medical cannabis dispensaries to operate in Texas, up from three under current law. Licensed dispensaries would have the option to create satellite locations to store medication. Medical cannabis providers must currently house all their operations and store products in a single location. This means providers and patients often drive hours to transport and pick up medication, The current situation Texas’ three medical cannabis dispensaries operate dozens of pickup locations throughout the state. House Bill 46 would allow 9 more providers to open locations. Medical cannabis pickup locations in the state
Another perspective
After House lawmakers passed SB 3 in mid-May, the Texas Hemp Business Council, which advocates for hemp retailers, launched a petition urging the governor to veto the bill. If SB 3 becomes law, it would “harm veterans, senior citizens, patients and consumers across the state,” according to the petition. Abbott has not publicly commented on the proposed THC ban.
SOURCES: TEXAS ORIGINAL, GOODBLEND AND FLUENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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