Texas, one of the most conservative American states when it comes to medical cannabis, will it finally open up its access to cannabis-based medicines a little more?
So far, only cannabis products with no more than 1% THC are allowed. They should also only be recommended for a list of 9 pathologies: epilepsy, seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder or an incurable neurodegenerative disease.
But a recent bill could facilitate patient access to cannabis.
Texas lawmakers last week approved a bill that would allow all physicians to recommend the use of cannabis to patients with chronic pain who would otherwise be treated with prescription opioids.
Republican Congresswoman Stephanie Klick’s bill was approved by the House Public Health Committee about a week after members gathered testimony on the proposal at an initial hearing.
The medical cannabis program expansion bill would replace the 1% THC limit for cannabis oil with a volumetric dose of 10 milligrams. As presented, the bill would have raised the limit to 5% THC, but the committee passed a substitute amendment that calls for a switch to the volumetric dose method.
It would also add a tenth condition allowing patients to benefit from low-THC cannabis products: “A condition that causes chronic pain, for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid. »
The bill also intends to make it easier to add other medical conditions to qualify patients for the cannabis program through regulations rather than laws. If passed, the bill will come into force on September 1, 2023.
The development comes weeks after another House of Representatives committee unanimously approved a bill to decriminalize cannabis possession in the state while providing a pathway for expungement of records.
