Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed legislation expanding the state’s limited medical marijuana program, broadening access for patients and increasing the number of licensed dispensaries.
House Bill 46, approved with strong bipartisan support, adds several new qualifying conditions to the state’s compassionate use program, including chronic pain, terminal illness, and traumatic brain injury. Until now, Texas law has only allowed medical marijuana use for a narrow list of conditions such as epilepsy and certain cancers.
The new law also raises the cap on the number of dispensaries allowed to operate in Texas. Under previous rules, just three were permitted statewide. That number will now increase to 15, a move supporters say is necessary to meet rising patient demand.
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