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🎉 Texas House Bill 46: A Bold Leap for Medical Cannabis in the Lone Star State

Over the weekend, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 46 into law (effective September 1, 2025), marking the most sweeping expansion of the Texas Compassionate-Use Program (TCUP) since its inception in 2015. 

Here's what this transformative legislation will do:

🌱 1. New Qualifying Conditions

HB 46 adds several major health conditions to the TCUP, including:

  • Chronic pain (persistent pain lasting more than 90 days)

  • Crohn’s disease

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

  • Terminal illnesses & hospice/palliative care 

 

đź’§ 2. New THC Products Approved

Patients will now have access to a variety of delivery systems under a doctor's direction:

  • Pulmonary inhalation (via inhalers, nebulizers, vaporizers)

  • Lotions, patches, suppositories 

 

⚖️ 3. Revised THC Dosage Limits

The law raises THC caps:

  • Up to 10 mg per dose

  • Maximum 1 g THC per package
    This replaces the older “1% THC by weight” limit 


🏪 4. More Dispensaries & Satellites

To improve access, HB 46 mandates:

  • 12 new dispensing licenses (totaling 15 licenses statewide), operational within 24 months of issuance

  • Permission for satellite locations with regulatory approval, easing access in rural areas 

 

đź“ť 5. Prescription Rules & Oversight

  • Certifications are valid for 1 year, with four 90-day refills

  • Prescriptions are tracked via the Prescription Monitoring Program by the Texas Board of Pharmacy.

🛡️ 6. Enhanced Program Safeguards

HB 46 includes patient privacy protections and security measures:

  • Patient records remain confidential, accessible only to authorized entities

  • Background checks (fingerprints) required for certain dispensary ownership stakes.

 

Why HB 46 Matters

  • By adding chronic pain and new delivery options, the program now caters to a far broader patient base, including veterans and individuals with serious medical needs.
  • Expanded infrastructure with satellite dispensaries addresses access inequities across rural and underserved regions.


What’s Next

  • Effective date: September 1, 2025.

  • Regulatory implementation:

    • DPS to finalize rules for satellite dispensaries and licensing by October 1, 2025

    • Health & Human Services setting standards for inhalation devices 


Final Thoughts

Texas is taking a giant leap forward with HB 46 — expanding patient eligibility, enhancing delivery options, increasing dispensary availability, and introducing updated dosage guidelines and oversight. While debates around broader THC policy continue, the law offers new hope to Texans suffering from chronic and debilitating conditions.

~ Texas Medical Marijuana Doctors 🌿🩺 - 844.832.4367

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