Texas lawmakers have passed a bill to significantly expand the state's medical marijuana program, sending it to the governor.
Just days after the legislation from Rep. Ken King (R) advanced through the Senate, with amendments that watered down the original House proposal, bicameral negotiators worked out a compromise over the weekend and then each chamber gave final approval on Sunday. The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to potentially be signed into law.
The final version of the bill—which cleared the House on a 138-1 vote and the Senate by a vote of 31-0—would expand the state's list of medical cannabis qualifying conditions to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases, while also allowing end-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care to use marijuana.
The measure would additionally allow patients to access a wider range of cannabis product types—including patches, lotions, suppositories, approved inhalers, nebulizers and vaping devices.
Read more at Marijuana Moment