Medical marijuana is legal in Texas if you have a doctor’s prescription. However, getting that prescription can be difficult and expensive.
The current medical cannabis program is limited to specific types of epilepsy. This may drive patients to seek out illicit cannabis sources, which can be dangerous.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common conditions that medical marijuana can alleviate. Cannabis chemical constituents work with the brain’s endocannabinoid system to induce tranquility and lessen anxiety. CBD, which is found in low-THC cannabis, is an excellent anxiolytic and can be taken as a supplement to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
The state of Louisiana recently added anxiety disorders to its list of qualifying debilitating conditions for medical marijuana. In Texas, however, anxiety is not a listed condition. It is currently only included in the Compassionate Use Program as a symptom of other conditions like PTSD or incurable neurodegenerative diseases.
Regardless, patients can still find relief from hemp-derived CBD products that are legal to possess throughout Texas. These products can be purchased at local dispensaries or shipped to your home by a physician registered with the CURT program. The doctor can then add your information to the online registry, and you can legally purchase cannabis-based products at any licensed dispensaries in the state.
Pain Management
Many Texans experience chronic pain. Traditional pain-relieving medications such as over-the-counter NSAIDs and opioids are not always effective, have serious side effects, and can lead to addiction. Medical marijuana is a natural treatment for some types of pain, with fewer side effects and no risk of addiction.
Currently, the Texas Compassionate Use Program allows doctors to prescribe low-THC medical marijuana products for a limited number of conditions like intractable epilepsy.
The bill also changes the way THC is measured in medical marijuana. The current system measures the amount of THC by weight, but Klick’s bill would change it to a volumetric measure. This could allow Texas medical marijuana doctors to prescribe larger doses of marijuana without compromising patient safety.
In addition to THC, cannabis has been found to aid in the relief of pain caused by nerve damage, muscle spasticity, and neuropathy. In most cases, cannabis is prescribed in edible forms such as THC gummies or tinctures.
Sleep
Medical marijuana has gained attention for its potential to help individuals with sleep-related issues, particularly those who struggle with insomnia. While more research is necessary to understand how marijuana affects sleep properly, specific studies and anecdotal data indicate that it might be helpful in some circumstances.
Medical marijuana treats various conditions, from cancer and neurodegenerative diseases to PTSD and other post-traumatic stress disorders.
In 2015, Texas lawmakers passed the Compassionate Use Program to allow patients with intractable epilepsy to obtain low-THC medical cannabis with a doctor’s prescription. The law has since been expanded to include terminal cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and PTSD, but veterans and advocates say the 1 percent THC limit is far lower than many need.
Depression
In the same way, pain management aids patients with PTSD or cancer, depression is also a common side effect of many conditions. According to experts, the FDA-approved medications that can treat depression often don’t help as much as cannabis.
Unlike opioids, cannabis is not addictive and has far fewer associated risks with overdose or dependency. As a result, many medical professionals favor Texas’s medicinal marijuana program, increasing its list of qualifying ailments.
Klick’s bill would allow Texans who suffer from chronic pain that requires typically opioid prescription to access cannabis products with less than 1% THC by weight. This low-THC medication helps relieve symptoms like nausea and loss of appetite for patients with cancer, reduce nightmares for PTSD patients, or ease muscle spasticity for people living with ALS.
Although conditions like anxiety and depression do not now meet the Texas Compassionate Use Program criteria, research has shown that they can help with symptoms like Parkinson’s disease or AIDS. This has increased grassroots calls for further easing the requirements for Texas medical marijuana cards.
Stress Management
Those who have PTSD have struggled with traditional methods of treating the condition, including psychotherapy and pharmaceuticals. Fortunately, HB 1535 has added PTSD to the list of conditions that qualify for low-THC medical marijuana in Texas.
In 2015, the Texas legislature created a medical marijuana program that is one of the most restrictive in the country. The Compassionate Use Program allows patients with epilepsy, a seizure disorder, autism, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), terminal cancer, and incurable neurodegenerative diseases to access cannabis with less than 1% THC.
Unlike recreational marijuana, which is smoked or eaten in various ways, the low-THC medical marijuana prescribed under the Compassionate Use Program is delivered in capsules, tincture oils, and gummies.
In addition, a physician must sign off on the prescription to legally possess the medication. Without a legitimate doctor’s recommendation, possessing or using marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor that can result in up to a $2,000 fine and jail time.
