Texas officials are taking steps to implement a law that significantly expands the state’s medical marijuana program. Draft rules have been posted to allow physicians to recommend new qualifying conditions for cannabis and establish standards for permissible inhalation devices.
The state Health and Human Services Commission is expected to formally file the proposed rules next week, after which they will be published in the Texas Register, opening a 31-day public comment period. These rules aim to comply with the medical marijuana expansion bill that Governor Greg Abbott signed into law in June.
The legislation broadens the list of qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases. It also allows end-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care to use medical marijuana. Under the law, these changes will automatically take effect on September 1, 2025, without additional rulemaking.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is also preparing to issue 12 new dispensary licenses across the state, up from the current three. Nine licenses will be awarded on December 1 to applicants from an earlier 2023 window, with remaining applicants eligible for a second round in April 2026. DPS will also set rules for security standards, satellite locations, and license revocation for noncompliant dispensaries.
In addition to medical marijuana expansion, Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban consumable hemp products containing THC. While a House committee recently reviewed the legislation, Democratic lawmakers continue to deny a quorum in the chamber, preventing progress. Governor Abbott has indicated that he will continue calling special sessions until the issue is addressed.
Other hemp and cannabis proposals have also been introduced, including bills to protect consumers who unknowingly purchase hemp products with excessive THC and proposals to legalize adult-use marijuana under certain possession limits. Polling data shows Texans largely favor obtaining therapeutic cannabis through licensed medical programs rather than unregulated smoke shops and support restrictions on synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8 THC.
The expansion of medical cannabis access, along with new dispensary rules, marks a significant step in Texas’ approach to cannabis, aiming to balance patient care, regulatory oversight, and public safety.
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