Texas restricts medical marijuana use to Compassionate Use Program participants (CUP). This initiative is administered by the Department of Public Safety.
CUP operates a secure online registry for qualified physicians known as the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT). CURT-registered physicians can prescribe low-THC cannabis (under 1 percent). Patients who qualify must have certain medical conditions and meet additional requirements.
The registry’s purpose is to ensure that only one physician prescribes medical marijuana to any given patient. The information is also accessible to law enforcement in order to verify the legality of a patient’s marijuana possession.
Additionally, the CUP issues licenses to dispensaries that fill medical marijuana prescriptions in the state. The law governing medical marijuana stipulates that these pharmacies must adhere to the strictest health requirements and policies.
How to Obtain a Texas Medical Marijuana Card
Obtaining a medical marijuana card in Texas requires two steps. These include determining your eligibility and obtaining physician approval.
Determining Eligibility
State law lays out specific qualifications for obtaining medical marijuana in Texas. It spells out the application and approval process, which CUP administers.
First, you must have a serious, chronic medical condition. There are more than 200 approved conditions, but the most common include:
- Alzheimer’s
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Autism
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinsons
- Seizure disorders
- Spasticity
- Terminal cancer
- An incurable neurodegenerative disease
The Texas State Legislature voted to add veterans to the list last year. Medical marijuana is available to those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or any type of cancer. It also increased the amount of THC permitted in medical marijuana from 0.5% to 1%.
Texas has additional requirements for obtaining a medical marijuana card. These include having a prescription and being a permanent resident of the state.
There is no age requirement for cannabis prescriptions. Minors do require parental or legal guardian consent.
