Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has voiced strong support for expanding the state’s medical marijuana program to include more qualifying conditions, while reiterating his opposition to the unregulated marijuana market that has emerged across the state.
Miller, a long-time advocate for medical marijuana, expressed concern over the lack of safety standards and oversight in Texas’ burgeoning market for cannabis-derived products. He criticized the current situation as a “wild west” where unregulated cannabis items, including edibles and vape pens, are sold without proper safety inspections or chemical analyses.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the state’s existing laws, Miller emphasized his belief in the potential benefits of medical marijuana. “I strongly support medical marijuana and our state’s compassionate use program,” Miller said in a press release sent today. “In fact, I want to see it expanded to include far more medical conditions than it currently does. Everyone who can benefit from it to help with their legitimate medical condition should have it available to them.”
Under Texas’ current law, the Compassionate Use Program allows medical marijuana use for a limited number of conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, autism, and certain forms of cancer. However, the program has faced criticism for its restrictive nature, leaving many patients without access to cannabis as a treatment option.
Miller also expressed support for robust research into marijuana’s medical applications, stating that a better understanding of cannabis could pave the way for improved treatment options and consumer products. However, Miller clarified that he does not support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
