Texas Lawmakers Move To Modernize State Medical Marijuana Laws

DALLAS, TX —Reviving a bill many pundits considered dead, a committee of the Texas Senate has passed a measure expanding the state's medical marijuana program.

The revised bill will encompass all forms of cancer as well as including victims of PTSD, but has changed significantly from the House proposal — which already enjoyed support from both sides of the aisle.

It looked as though the bill would be among those left by the wayside as the legislature heads into the last few days of its session. But following a short Senate recess, the legislation was resurrected when the Committee on State Affairs brought up the bill from GOP Rep. Stephanie Klick. The final vote: 8-0.

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The most significant change was in the amount of THC the Senate was willing to permit. The initial proposal called for an increase from .5 percent to 5 percent — not necessarily increasing the amount of drug a patient receives, but altering the medication mixture to make it easier to consume the substantial amount of oil a user must ingest. (Medicinal marijuana is delivered in a thick syrupy oil mixture.)

Georgetown Republican Charles Schwertner introduced a substitute that brought the oil/THC concentration down to 1 percent. That same substitute also excluded chronic pain sufferers who could be prescribed opioids.

What's still required is passage from the entire Senate and an agreement to the changes by the House. Then it would head to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

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