Texas mulls a broadened limited medical marijuana program

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Texas is looking at dramatically expanding its limited medical cannabis program to allow patients with a range of new medical conditions, from post-traumatic stress disorder to cancer, to qualify for marijuana-derived oils high in CBD.

A bill was approved 7-1 by the House Committee on Public Health and is awaiting a vote in the Texas House that would add new patients to the state’s restrictive MMJ program, which caps THC content at 0.5% THC.

That’s just a hair above the federal limit for hemp, which is 0.3% THC. Texas also requires that MMJ products contain 10% CBD.

The change could considerably widen Texas’ medical marijuana patient pool, and thus provide expanded opportunities for MMJ businesses.

Texas currently limits MMJ to people with intractable epilepsy. The current MMJ patient pool in the nation’s second-largest state is roughly 500, according to the Austin Business Journal.

The bill would also set up a new MMJ oversight board to consider new formulations and dosages for MMJ, possibly opening the door to Texas patients being able to access higher THC limits without additional legislation.