Texas Governor to Sign Low-THC Medical Cannabis Bill

Texas Governor to Sign Low-THC Medical Cannabis Bill

Texas Governor Greg Abbott will sign Senate Bill 339 on Monday, a legislative proposal to legalize the medical use of low-THC cannabis for the treatment of epilepsy, according to a news advisory. Governor Abbott plans to sign the bill at an afternoon ceremony with the bill’s authors, Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) and Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth).

Under the new law, those with epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a physician would be authorized to possess and use low-THC (now more than 0.5%), high-CBD (at least 10%) cannabis.  The Texas Department of Public Safety is directed to grant licenses to at minimum of three organizations by September 2017 that will be authorized to distribute cannabis medicines.

The measure prohibits the smoking of low-THC cannabis, but does allow patients to consume it through a variety of other methods including oils, edibles and tinctures.

Senate Bill 339 was passed by the state’s House of Representatives 96 to 34, and was passed by the Senate 26 to 5.

According to advocates of the bill, roughly 150,000 Texans live with intractable epilepsy.

[Update: Governor Abbott has officially signed Senate Bill 339 into law.]

– TheJointBlog