Low-THC Cannabis Medical Use

Texas qualified physicians may prescribe low-THC cannabis for the treatment of approved medical conditions, under conditions established in Texas laws and regulations. In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 339, known as the Texas Compassionate-Use Act, authorizing low-THC cannabis to be prescribed to treat patients with intractable epilepsy. Since then, the Texas Legislature has expanded the list of approved conditions for medical treatment. 

The Texas Legislature also tasked the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with creating rules to: 

  • designate “incurable neurodegenerative diseases” for which patients may be prescribed low-THC cannabis; and
  • designate the medical conditions for which a patient may be treated with low-THC cannabis as part of a compassionate-use institutional review board (CIRB) approved research program.

The executive commissioner of HHSC charged rule development to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This webpage provides information on the medical use of low-THC cannabis in Texas, DSHS rules, and provides guidance for CIRBs’ reports.  

Additional Information

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers the licensing of dispensing organizations, employee registration as part of the dispensing organization license, and physician registration in the Compassionate Use Registry. For more information, including information on related rules in DPS’ purview, visit the DPS Compassionate Use Program website.

Legislation and Rules

Incurable Neurodegenerative Diseases

How to Report

Legislation

Rules

The executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), on behalf of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), has adopted the following rules relating to low-THC cannabis for medical use:

25 Texas Administrative Code, Section 1.61 designates incurable neurodegenerative diseases eligible for prescription of low-THC cannabis. This rule was required by House Bill 3703, 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019. It took effect December 5, 2019.  

25 TAC Section 1.65 provides guidance for a compassionate-use institutional review board (CIRB) to evaluate, approve, and oversee research programs to study the medical use of low-THC cannabis. This rule also requires CIRBs to submit written reports that describe and assess the research findings to HHSC and the Legislature. The rule was necessary to comply with House Bill 1535, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021. It took effect November 17, 2021. 

Bills and Statutes

House Bill 3703 – Enacted by the 86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2019. It amended Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 169 and required the executive commissioner of HHSC, in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, to adopt a rule designating incurable neurodegenerative diseases eligible for prescription of low-THC cannabis. This bill took effect September 1, 2019.
House Bill 1535 – Enacted by the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021. It amended Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 487 by requiring the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules designating the medical conditions for which a patient may be treated with low-THC cannabis as part of an approved research program. The bill also authorizes the establishment of one or more CIRBs to evaluate, approve, and oversee research programs to study the medical use of low-THC cannabis and requires CIRBs to submit written reports that describe and assess the research findings to HHSC and the Texas Legislature. 

Incurable Neurodegenerative Diseases


Physicians can submit a request to add Incurable Neurodegenerative Diseases to 25 Texas Administrative Code, Section 1.61 (b) by submitting the required form to HPCDPSprovider@dshs.texas.gov.  
If the condition is approved, the submitter will be notified, and the rule will be amended during the next rule-making project. If the condition is declined, the submitter will be notified of the decision not to add.

How to Report 

25 Texas Administrative Code, Section 1.65 requires each compassionate-use institutional review board (CIRB) established to evaluate and approve proposed research to study the medical use of low-THC cannabis, in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 487.253 to: 

  1. Submit a written report that describes and assesses the research findings of each approved research program to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Only electronic reports are accepted, please do not mail a hard copy of the report. The report is due no later than October 1 of each year. 
    Report may be submitted to:
              Texas Department of State Health Services
              Community Health Improvement Division
              Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section
              HPCDPSprovider@dshs.texas.gov
  2. Submit a written report that describes and assesses the research findings of each approved research program to the Texas Legislature. The report is due by October 1 of each even-numbered year.
    Report may be submitted to:
    The Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Texas Legislature.

Contact Information

Texas Department of State Health Services
Community Health Improvement Division
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section
MC 1965
PO Box 149347 Austin, TX 78714-9347
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756
Phone: (512) 458-7111