Texas Senate Limits Medical Marijuana Expansion After THC Ban Approval

Texas lawmakers are advancing a bill to ban all consumable hemp products containing THC, which poses a significant threat to the state's $8 billion hemp industry and its 50,000 jobs. The ban, if signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, would allow only non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD and CBG to be sold and consumed, effectively dissolving the market for THC-laced products. In response to concerns about the impact on chronic pain sufferers and others who rely on low-THC products, legislators are concurrently working to expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) for medical marijuana. However, the Senate has proposed amendments that reduce the qualifying conditions and the number of licenses compared to the House bill, excluding chronic pain and traumatic brain injury from eligibility, drawing criticism from House members and veterans' groups. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced plans to increase licenses and add qualifying conditions such as terminal illness and hospice care, aiming to give physicians more autonomy in dosing and delivery methods. The legislative process continues as lawmakers negotiate a final version that balances public health concerns with access to medical cannabis before the bills reach the governor.