After sitting in a sort of legislative limbo for two weeks, the medical cannabis expansion bill finally makes its way to the Senate floor in Texas. HB 1535 passed a full House chamber. The final vote sat at 134-12. But Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) hasn’t brought it to the floor for consideration until now. 

HB 1535 finally made its way to the Senate State Affairs Committee, but it has some challenges ahead. The bill must pass the committee and receive approval from a full Senate chamber all before Wednesday May 26 when the legislative session ends in Texas.

HB 1535

This medical cannabis expansion bill, sponsored by Representative Stephanie Klick (R), would add chronic pain, all cancer patients, and PTSD to the qualifying conditions list. The THC limit of medical cannabis would increase from 0.5 percent to five percent. It would also allow the Department of State Health to add qualifying conditions through administrative rulemaking.

Currently, the Department of State Health can only recommend conditions be added. Lawmakers have to write amendments and laws adding conditions to the qualifying list. Allowing the Department to add conditions on their own removes an extra step to the process of allowing patients access to medical cannabis. Only around 3,500 patients registered for the Texas medical cannabis back in January. But there are about two million eligible for medical cannabis under current state laws. 

Additionally, there are several people in Texas who are calling for legalization efforts. 60 percent of Texans approve of legalizing small and large amounts of recreational cannabis, while 13 percent believe in no cannabis legalization. 28 percent say only medical cannabis should be legal. Still, a majority of people want cannabis legalized in some form. 

Public Comment

“It’s difficult to come up with any explanation that makes sense as to why the lieutenant governor would block this legislation,” said the director of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, Heather Fazio. But she is confident that the lawmakers will make the right choice for their people. 

There just may not be enough time this session. Only time will tell. As more information becomes available, we will make sure to update you with the latest. 

Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.