In the past decade, cannabis reform has seen sweeping progress across the United States. While still federally prohibited, medical cannabis is currently legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia. In 2015, Texas legislators passed the Texas Compassionate-Use Act, legalizing low-THC cannabis use for Texans suffering from certain medical conditions. The state amended this law in 2019 and 2021, expanding eligibility by adding additional qualifying medical conditions, including PTSD. While millions of Texans are considered eligible under current law, only a small fraction of these are currently enrolled in the Compassionate Use Program. Understanding Texas’s unique low-THC medical cannabis program is critical for safely connecting patients with medical cannabis treatments.
Low-dose THC cannabis explained
One of the unique features of Texas’s Compassionate Use Program is that it limits cannabis use to low-dose THC. To be considered “low,” medicinal marijuana must contain no more than 1% THC by weight. Texas cannabis is derived specifically from Cannabis sativa L., a specially-bred low-THC strain of cannabis plant. A Texas medical marijuana card allows Texas residents to purchase cannabis products, but only in forms that can be swallowed, such as gummies, tinctures, and lozenges. In comparison to smoking or vaping, edible use of cannabis products allows the patient to better monitor and track their consumption, thus providing more useful feedback on the effectiveness of the treatment. The prescribing physician will also work with the patient to develop and refine a treatment plan that includes dosing recommendations tailored to the patient’s condition and lifestyle.
What are the qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana card in Texas?
Patients diagnosed with any of the below conditions may qualify for medical marijuana in the state of Texas, according to the state’s Compassionate Use Act.
Qualifying conditions include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Epilepsy
- Seizure disorders
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spasticity
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cancer
- Autism
- Other incurable neurodegenerative diseases
How does cannabis help people suffering from certain medical conditions?
The most common reason doctors issue a medical marijuana card in Texas and the United States is to treat pain. While chronic pain is not yet considered a qualifying condition by itself, many of the conditions listed above are associated with chronic pain. Although cannabis isn’t powerful enough to treat severe pain associated with a broken bone, it can reduce chronic pain, allowing patients to experience relief for an improved quality of life.
Additionally, medical cannabis has far less potential to become addictive than opioids and virtually no association with overdose. Many patients who might benefit by taking NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, for pain management may not be able to take over-the-counter pain relievers because of kidney problems or certain digestive tract issues. Texas offers a medical marijuana card as a safer alternative for these cases.
Research has found that medical cannabis is particularly effective for treating conditions associated with nerve pain, such as multiple sclerosis. Patients who take medical cannabis for nerve pain have reported reduced pain levels without experiencing adverse side effects associated with other treatments. Patients who take medical marijuana for Parkinson’s disease report feeling less muscle pain and reduced tremors. Oftentimes, the conditions associated with chronic pain are incurable and can only be symptomatically managed. Medical marijuana is an attractive option for many eligible Texans who are seeking an alternative, more natural approach to their pain management.
Who can issue a medical marijuana card in Texas?
Only doctors who have registered with the state of Texas to prescribe cannabis can legally prescribe it to patients. This mandate is part of the state’s Compassionate Use Act.
After confirming a patient’s eligibility for a medical marijuana card in Texas, the prescribing physician can register the patient for CURT. CURT is short for Compassionate Use Registry of Texas. Patients must be registered with the CURT system before they can obtain prescriptions for their legal medical cannabis.
Steps to qualify for medical cannabis
Qualifying for medical cannabis in Texas involves some relatively basic steps:
- The patient must be a Texas resident.
- The patient must have a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card in Texas, with proof of diagnosis.
- The patient must have a prescription from a physician who is state-approved and registered to prescribe medical marijuana.
If a patient’s current physician is not registered, they may provide a reference for a provider who is. Alternatively, Texans can quickly and easily confirm their eligibility and schedule an appointment online with a board-certified, CURT-registered physician with Texas 420 Doctors. Once the patient is registered with CURT and has their prescription, they can purchase their preferred medical marijuana products online or by phone from any Texas dispensary and have them conveniently delivered to their home.
Learn more about medical cannabis in Texas from Texas 420 Doctors.
Low-THC medical marijuana is available under Texas law; however, it is illegal under federal law. Patients under 18 require a legal guardian for a medical marijuana prescription.
Dr. Alan Tran
License Number: J4567
