Texas lawmakers will add chronic pain to the list of qualifying conditions in their medical marijuana program. That’s according to an announcement made this week by Lieutenant Governor. Dan Patrick (R), stating that he and state Rep. Tom Oliverson had come to an agreement.
The agreement comes after the House earlier this month voted 122 to 21 to advance a bill adding chronic pain and Crohn’s disease to the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) — and also after the Legislature last week approved a statewide ban on products containing any amount of THC or other cannabinoids except for CBD or CBG.
Patrick said on X Sunday that the lawmakers had agreed “to include chronic pain in the TCUP program (compassionate usage program) as a medical condition for people who have chronic pain, as defined currently by Texas Medical Board Rules.”
House Bill 46, which was introduced by the lieutenant-governor in 2013, makes several significant changes to state programs.
For the first ever, we are increasing the number of licenses (currently 3) and adding satellite locations to each region in the public health system. Also, hospice care and terminal illnesses have been added to the list. In addition, we have increased and standardized the dosage while giving physicians the autonomy to prescribing the right dose according to each patient’s need, with metered-dose inhalation systems.” — Lt. Gov. Patrick in a press release
Patrick is also the man behind the recent THC prohibition, after announcing last year the lawmakers’ priority to rein in the Texas hemp industry.
In the meantime, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is being petitioned by hemp supporters. Greg Abbott (R), to veto any bans on hemp-based products.
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