Texas may be one step closer to expanding its medical marijuana program. Lawmakers in the Texas House have advanced a bill that could make medical cannabis more accessible across the state—especially for people living in rural areas. But time is running short for the bill to pass during the current legislative session.
House Bill 46, introduced by State Representative Ken King, aims to expand the conditions covered under Texas’ Compassionate Use Program and increase the number of places where licensed dispensers can operate.
What Is the Compassionate Use Program?
The Compassionate Use Program (CUP) is Texas’s legal medical marijuana system. It currently allows patients with certain medical conditions—such as cancer, PTSD, epilepsy, and neurological disorders—to receive low-THC cannabis by prescription.
However, access to this treatment has been limited, especially for people who don’t live near the Central Texas region, where most dispensaries are located.
What Would House Bill 46 Change?
House Bill 46 proposes two main changes:
1. Expanded list of qualifying medical conditions:
New conditions such as chronic pain and Crohn’s disease would be added to the list of approved diagnoses. This would allow many more patients to legally qualify for medical marijuana in Texas.
2. More dispensing locations:
The bill would allow licensed dispensers to open satellite locations in rural areas, so people living outside big cities wouldn’t need to travel long distances for their prescriptions.
Additionally, the bill would allow smokable cannabis products to be prescribed and sold legally under medical guidelines.
Why This Matters
For many Texans, especially in rural or underserved areas, getting access to medical marijuana has been difficult. Representative King said, “There are too many Texans who are still struggling to get access to the medicine they legally have a right to receive.”
By allowing dispensaries to open outside Central Texas, the bill aims to fix this issue. It also brings hope to patients suffering from chronic pain and Crohn’s disease, conditions currently not covered under the program.
Current Status of the Bill
On Monday, the Texas House gave preliminary approval to House Bill 46 by a wide margin—118 votes to 16. A final vote in the House is still needed before the bill can move to the Texas Senate, where its future is uncertain.
With limited time left in the session, supporters of the bill are hoping for quick action to avoid delays or rejection in the Senate.