This month, the state's first medical marijuana dispensary will celebrate six years of service to the Lone Star State.
texas original planted its first cannabis seeds at its South Austin facility on October 31, 2017, and has since helped bring medical cannabis to thousands of Texans.
Texas Original opened Texas' first medical marijuana dispensary in 2018, paving the way for thousands of Texans to have legal access to the drug. Now, just six years later, the state's compassionate use program is much more accessible to millions of Texans.
So what exactly is the Compassionate Use Program and how can Texans obtain medical marijuana? The process is easier than you think.
Medical marijuana legal in Texas
The Texas Compassionate Use Program was signed into law in June 2015 and initially only allowed medical marijuana treatment for patients with intractable epilepsy.
Since then, the program has expanded several times and now covers more than 150 eligibility criteria, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Spasticity (muscle spasms)
- cancer
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
- Peripheral neuropathy (neuralgia)
- Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
- parkinson's disease
- autism
- multiple sclerosis
- ALS
- Over 150 neurodegenerative diseases
In addition to covering more than 150 qualifying medical conditions, the state also increased its THC limits in 2021. This THC cap increase means Texans can now legally obtain regulated, medical-grade cannabis products in therapeutic doses.
How to receive a prescription
Millions of Texans are eligible for medical marijuana, and getting a prescription takes just a few steps.
First, find out if you're eligible by making an appointment with a doctor enrolled in the Compassionate Use Program.
Several registered physicians offer convenient virtual appointments through telemedicine, so patients can meet with a doctor from anywhere in Texas. To make a reservation, visit her website at Texas Original and fill out the form.
Next, meet with your doctor. During your consultation, your doctor will review your medical records, determine whether you qualify for medical marijuana, and discuss your treatment plan.
Once approved, your doctor will add your prescription to the online medical cannabis registry, which will be accessible to licensed dispensaries.
Once the meeting is over, it's time to place your order. To place your first order, visit the Texas Original website or call 512-614-0343.
Texas Original offers some of the state's leading medical-grade cannabis products, including Texas' first fast-acting medical cannabis gummies.
Medical marijuana is available in gummy form.Photo courtesy of Texas Original
So what is the difference between medical marijuana and hemp?
Given that cannabis-derived Delta-8 and Delta-9 products are widely available at gas stations, smoke shops, CBD stores, and online, Texans may wonder why they should bother getting a medical marijuana prescription. There may be some people.
Due to lack of regulation, some commercially available hemp products pose a risk to consumers due to inconsistent potency, purity, and processing methods.
New products like Delta-8 are often synthesized by dissolving CBD in a solvent, which can pose additional risks to consumers without proper testing and regulation.
In contrast, medical cannabis products are highly regulated under state compassionate use programs.
All medical grade products are rigorously tested to ensure quality, purity and consistency. Medical cannabis products are also produced locally in Texas, ensuring the quality of the medicine is maintained and tested from seed to sale.
Texans can learn more about the Compassionate Use Program and receive a medical marijuana prescription here.
