Published by Alexander Marx Ortega | March 24, 2023
Texas legislators have taken a step toward considerably extending the availability of medicinal cannabis. Last week, a plan to raise the maximum THC levels in medicinal cannabis and broaden who is qualified to use it was overwhelmingly passed by the Texas House Committee on Public Health.
The definition of “low-cannabis THC” would be changed to 10 milligrams by State Rep. Stephanie Klick’s (R-Fort Worth) Bill 1805. THC content in cannabis products is presently capped at 1% by weight. Any Texan with a crippling illness or persistent pain “for which a physician would ordinarily prescribe an opioid” would also be added to the list of eligible citizens.
With bipartisan support, the bill has made steady progress through the legislative process and is currently waiting for a date to be examined by the entire House in the House Calendars Committee.
Sid Miller, the Texas Agricultural Commissioner, stated in a January interview “We want to leave that decision up to the doctors. What we have now is a patchwork where it’s okay for some diseases and maladies and others it’s not, even though we have the science. This drug is much safer than hydrocodone, Oxycontin, amphetamines. There’s no physical harm. We’ve got the science behind it. We’re not asking for recreational marijuana. We’re just asking to help people.”
The most recent reporting will be included in this coverage, which is continuing.
