The Texas House voted 118-16 on Monday to advance House Bill 46, aimed at resolving longstanding access issues within the state’s Compassionate Use Program (CUP). Authored by State Representative Ken King, R-Canadian, the bill will undergo a third reading in the House before proceeding to the Texas Senate.
King highlighted that while the program was established in 2015, it has not been effectively implemented for patient access. He noted a severe shortage of licensed dispensing organizations in Texas, which complicates the delivery of low-THC cannabis to patients across the state. Currently, inventory must be stored in Austin, leading to logistical challenges for patients in cities like Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio. Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original, explained that patients must often place orders a day in advance, and delivery can take considerable time, especially in rural areas where scheduling deliveries can take weeks.
House Bill 46 seeks to tackle these issues by allowing dispensaries to establish secure storage facilities in multiple cities, thereby improving access for patients. The bill also mandates the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue 11 licenses for dispensaries, which would significantly increase the supply of low-THC cannabis available to patients.
Since its inception, the CUP program has gradually expanded eligibility beyond intractable epilepsy to include various conditions. Currently, qualifying conditions include: – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – Autism – Cancer – Epilepsy – An incurable neurodegenerative disease – Multiple sclerosis – Post-traumatic stress disorder – A seizure disorder – Spasticity
Under HB 46, doctors would also be able to prescribe low-THC cannabis for additional conditions, such as: – Chronic pain that would otherwise require opioid prescriptions – Glaucoma – Traumatic brain injury – Spinal neuropathy – Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases – Degenerative disc disease – Terminal illnesses or conditions requiring hospice or palliative care
Another key change proposed in HB 46 is the removal of restrictions on the use of low-THC inhalers, which could be particularly beneficial for patients needing immediate relief. Richardson pointed out that for those with episodic conditions, inhalation methods provide faster relief compared to ingestion, which can take 30 minutes to an hour to take effect. This change could also help first-time users who may unintentionally consume too much due to the delayed onset of ingested THC.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it holds the potential to significantly improve access to medical cannabis for thousands of Texans in need.
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