In a significant policy shift, the Texas Senate has moved to substantially limit the expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program by revising House Bill 46. This development comes shortly after the Senate agreed to ban recreational THC products, signaling a more restrictive approach to cannabis regulation in the state.
The revised bill reduces the number of new business licenses from nine to three, mirroring a broader trend toward tighter THC regulation as California moves to permanently ban hemp-derived THC products. It removes eligibility for several medical conditions, including chronic pain and traumatic brain injury—conditions that veterans’ groups had strongly advocated for inclusion. Additionally, the bill eliminates provisions that guarantee privacy and broad eligibility for veterans, further narrowing access to medical cannabis.
Currently, the Texas Compassionate Use Program serves approximately 15,000 users and has struggled to attract participants, partly due to the availability of more accessible hemp-derived THC products. The new draft of the bill also caps the dosage at 10mg and retains existing provisions for satellite dispensaries and inhalable treatments.
Critics, including veterans’ advocates and policy experts, argue that these changes will drive patients toward the black market, especially in light of the impending THC ban. The revised bill must still pass a full Senate vote before the House and Senate negotiate a final version, requiring Governor Greg Abbott’s signature to become law.
This legislative move has sparked a broader debate about patient access to medical cannabis and how states regulate THC products. As the bill advances through the legislative process, stakeholders are closely monitoring its implications for patients, healthcare providers, and the cannabis industry in Texas—especially as countries like Germany move in the opposite direction by expanding regulated cannabis access through national reform efforts.
Published On: May 24, 2025
Source: ExpressNews – Texas Senate moves to gut medical cannabis expansion after securing THC ban