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The Texas House of Representatives has given initial approval a bill that would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients as an opioid alternative for chronic pain, bringing it one step closer to final passage in the chamber.
The legislation from Rep. Stephanie Klick (R)which would also replace the THC cap that was established under the states existing limited medical cannabis lawcleared the chamber in a 121-23 vote on second reading Tuesday. It needs to be approved one more time in the House before potentially moving to the Senate.
This vote also comes weeks after a separate House panel unanimously approved a bill to decriminalize cannabis possession in the state while providing a pathway for records expungement.
The medical marijuana expansion legislation, which moved through the House Public Health Committee last month, would replace the one percent THC cap for cannabis oil from with a volumetric dose of 10 milligrams.
It would also expand eligibility for low-THC marijuana products by granting legal access to patients with a condition that causes chronic pain, for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid.
Importantly, the bill further stipulates that regulators at the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) could approve, through rulemaking, additional debilitating medical conditions to qualify patients for the cannabis program. If enacted, the bill would take effect starting on September 1, 2023.