Author Topic: If hemp is legal in Texas, what will come of the state’s medical cannabis program?  (Read 369 times)

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Houston Chronicle by  Taylor Goldenstein May 30, 2019

The Texas Legislature took some of its biggest strides loosening marijuana-related laws this session, passing bills to expand the state’s medical cannabis program and legalize certain hemp-derived products.

But as lawmakers pave the way to an even bigger surge of over-the-counter hemp products such as CBD oil, some marijuana advocates say the Legislature may have also created the medical program’s mightiest competitor.

The state’s Compassionate Use program is already one of the most restrictive in the nation, allowing only patients with intractable epilepsy access to marijuana-derived oil with up to 0.5 percent THC, the psychoactive ingredient that gives users a high.

Meanwhile, hemp-derived products available over the counter will be capped at 0.3 percent THC. And the two products are virtually the same, said Heather Fazio, director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy.

If hemp-based CBD oil is legal, Fazio said she wonders whether patients will bother with the medical cannabis program, which requires a doctor’s visit and restricts users to purchasing from one of three government-regulated vendors.

“I am concerned that this program is irrelevant because patients can just buy safe and effective products over the counter,” said Fazio, who pushed this session for a more expansive medical program, less red tape for entry and a removal of the 0.5 percent THC cap. “There are many folks that can benefit from this medicine … It is tragic that we would leave these patients behind.”

Legislators passed a bill, House Bill 3703, that adds several qualifying conditions to the list of Texas patients eligible for medical cannabis, including terminal cancers, autism and multiple sclerosis. The bill also removes the requirement that patients receive approval from two neurologists to enter the program and instead requires sign-off from just one specialist.

The move came despite Gov. Greg Abbott saying late last year that he was reluctant to expand the medicinal program, because it could bring about abuses of the system.

“I am glad to see that some people may see benefit from this Compassionate Use program, but still the majority of patients are being left behind, either by not being included or not being allowed to have access to the dosing of medical cannabis that’s going to best treat their condition,” Fazio said.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/If-hemp-is-legal-in-Texas-what-will-come-of-the-13905233.php