Texas House Advances Major Medical Cannabis Reform

The Texas House has advanced House Bill 46, a major proposal to reform the state's Compassionate Use Program for medical cannabis. Authored by Rep. Ken King, the bill would expand qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, Crohn's disease, traumatic brain injury, and degenerative disc disease, and permit cannabis in forms such as patches, lotions, inhalers, and vaping devices. To improve access, HB 46 would require the Texas Department of Public Safety to issue 11 dispensary licenses, one per public health region, and allow for state discretion in further license expansion. The bill also allows for satellite storage facilities outside Austin, aiming to reduce delays for rural patients. Honorably discharged veterans would qualify for medical cannabis for any condition. The bill has passed a preliminary House vote and now awaits a final vote before moving to the Texas Senate.