Texas Lt. Gov. announces compassionate use expansion amid THC ban

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Sunday that an expansion for compassionate use is moving forward, as Texas’ ban on THC products is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for a signature.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick posted on X Sunday evening, saying he and Rep. Tom Oliverson “have come to an agreement on add chronic pain as a qualifying medical condition to TCUP (compassionate use program) for those who suffer chronic pain as currently defined by the Texas Medical Board rules.”

Senate Bill 3 bans all products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — the part of cannabis plants that induce the “high.”

Critics argued that the ban will hurt chronic pain sufferers who rely on low-THC products for relief. Patrick’s post said he and the authors of House Bill 46, which establishes registration rules for medical THC use, had a “positive conversation” and they “look forward to passing this bill for our veterans and those who suffer from chronic pain.”

“The Senate and my concern has always been that we don’t want to go back to the days of doctors writing prescriptions for anyone who paid them for a prescription for pain pills,” Patrick wrote, in part. “Dr. Oliverson presented a new thoughtful plan that the Senate and I can support that will help those in true need of relief.”

Patrick said the state will expand licenses from the current number of three, to 12, adding satellite locations in each public health region. He said terminal illness and hospice care have been added as qualifying medical conditions for the compassionate use program and dosage allotments have been increased and standardized. Patrick said this will give “physicians autonomy to prescribe the right dose for each patient’s needs, along with metered dose inhalation delivery systems.”