The Texas House of Representatives will vote on a bill next week that would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients as an opioid alternative for chronic pain.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Klick (R), would also replace the THC cap that was established under the state’s existing limited medical cannabis law.
After moving through the House Public Health Committee last month, the measure was brought before the Calendars Committee on Thursday, which has now scheduled it for floor debate and a vote on Tuesday, April 11.
This also comes weeks after a separate House panel unanimously approved a bill to decriminalize cannabis possession in the state while providing a pathway for records expungement.
The medical marijuana expansion legislation, meanwhile, would replace the one percent THC cap for cannabis oil from with a volumetric dose of 10 milligrams.
Legislation to improve the #Texas Compassionate Use Program has been scheduled to be debated and voted on by the full House of Representatives on 4/11/23.
Ask your Representative to vote YES: https://t.co/H0DburlAei#TexasNORML #NORML #TXLege pic.twitter.com/1ZHV4ABDtA
— Texas NORML (@TexasNORML) April 7, 2023
It would also add a tenth condition that qualifies patients for low-THC marijuana products: “A condition that causes chronic pain, for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid.”
Importantly, the bill further stipulates that regulators at the Department of State Health…
