Texas maintains strict prohibition of medical and recreational marijuana with only a very limited Compassionate Use Program for low-THC cannabis for severe conditions. The state has some of the harshest cannabis penalties in the nation and has resisted comprehensive medical marijuana legislation. While some cities have decriminalized small possession, state law still imposes criminal penalties. Texas serves very few patients through its restrictive program while maintaining broad cannabis prohibition.
For the Compassionate Use Program: 1) Be diagnosed with a qualifying condition by a registered Texas physician, 2) The physician must prescribe low-THC cannabis through the state program, 3) Obtain products from one of the few licensed Texas dispensaries. There's no card system - just physician prescriptions.
Texas does not have comprehensive qualifying conditions for medical marijuana due to the lack of a full medical program. However, the Compassionate Use Program allows low-THC cannabis (1% THC or less) for patients with epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, ALS, autism, terminal cancer, and certain other specified conditions.
The Texas Department of Public Safety oversees the limited Compassionate Use Program. Since there's no comprehensive medical marijuana program, most cannabis enforcement is handled by various law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Patients in the Compassionate Use Program don't receive state-issued cards but must be prescribed low-THC cannabis by registered physicians. The program doesn't require separate patient registration beyond physician prescriptions and dispensary access.
Access to cannabis in Texas is extremely limited to qualifying patients in the Compassionate Use Program who can obtain low-THC products from very few licensed dispensaries. Most cannabis use remains illegal with no legal access for the vast majority of Texas residents.
There are no separate registration costs for the Compassionate Use Program since it operates through physician prescriptions rather than patient cards. Patients pay for doctor visits and the cost of low-THC cannabis products from licensed dispensaries.
