Texas officials have published a set of proposed rules to implement a law significantly expanding the state's medical marijuana program. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) rules—which were posted in the Texas Register on Friday—would increase the number of licensed dispensaries, establish security requirements for "satellite" locations and authorize the revocation of licenses for certain violations.
There's now a 30-day public comment period open for the public to provide input on the rules before they're finalized, which must be done by October 1 under legislation that Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed in June.
DPS will ultimately be issuing 12 new licenses for dispensaries across the state. Currently there are only three. The additional licensees will go through a competitive process, with officials prioritizing Texas's public health regions to optimize access.
The first round of licenses will be awarded to nine of 139 applicants who submitted their forms during an earlier application window in 2023. DPS will select those nine licensees on December 1. The 2023 applicants that didn't receive a license, as well as any new prospective licensees, will have another shot at getting their license during a second round where awardees will be announced on April 1, 2026.
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