On Monday, September 1, Texas’s medical marijuana program will undergo its largest expansion since it was created a decade ago.

House Bill 46, signed into law in June, broadens patient access, increases dosage limits, and adds new product options for the state’s Compassionate Use Program.

The law allows doctors to recommend medical marijuana for patients with chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, traumatic brain injury, terminal illnesses, and those receiving hospice or palliative care. Until now, the program was limited to a narrow list of qualifying conditions, leaving many patients without access.

Starting September 1, dispensaries will be able to offer products beyond oils and edibles, with patches, lotions, suppositories, and inhalable options such as inhalers and vaporizers allowed once approved by health officials. The law also raises the cap from 1% THC by weight to 10 milligrams per dose, with no more than 1 gram of THC per package.

HB 46 directs the Department of Public Safety to issue 12 additional dispensary licenses, bringing the total to 15. An application process is currently underway, with a September 15 deadline. These license holders will be required to open within two years and may establish satellite locations to expand availability across the state. Physicians can now issue medical marijuana prescriptions valid for one year with up to four 90-day refills.

Agencies must finalize the rules by October 1 to guide physicians, dispensaries, and regulators under the new system. The Texas Medical Board will also create a system to track prescriptions.

The Compassionate Use Program was established in 2015, but access has remained among the most restrictive in the nation. Lawmakers and advocates say HB 46 represents the state’s most significant step forward on marijuana policy, even as broader legalization efforts remain stalled at the Capitol.