Texas

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. Is a resident of Texas;  

2. Has one of the following medical conditions: 

• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders 
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) or spasticity 
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 
• Autism spectrum disorder 
• Cancer (any stage; no longer limited to terminal cases) 
• Incurable neurodegenerative diseases, including but not limited to:
• Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and other progressive neurological disorders 
• Post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Chronic pain (added by HB 46; defined as severe continuous or intermittent pain lasting >90 days) 
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) 
• Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) 
• Terminal illness or patients receiving hospice or palliative care 
• Conditions included in approved state research programs

3. Has a current dispensing prescription in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT). 

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

1. Confirm You May Qualify

To access medical cannabis through the Texas Compassionate Use Program, patients should first confirm that they may qualify. Patients should review the current TCUP qualifying conditions, which include conditions such as epilepsy, cancer, PTSD, chronic pain, and other approved conditions. Patients must also be permanent Texas residents.

2. Gather Your Medical History

Patients should gather relevant medical records before meeting with a physician. This may include recent diagnoses, medical history, imaging, medication lists, and other records related to the qualifying condition. Having this information available can help the physician document eligibility.

3. Find a TCUP-Registered Physician or Contact a Licensed Medical Cannabis Provider

Patients should find a physician registered with the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT). This may be a specialist, primary care provider, or physician at a medical cannabis clinic. Patients may also contact a licensed dispensing organization, which may be able to help connect them with a registered physician and guide them through the process.

4. Schedule and Attend an Evaluation

During the evaluation, the physician will confirm the patient’s diagnosis and determine whether the benefits of low-THC cannabis outweigh the risks. Evaluations may be offered in person or by telehealth, depending on the physician.

5. Have the Prescription Entered in CURT

If the patient qualifies, the physician enters the prescription directly into CURT. Texas does not require a separate patient application or medical cannabis card.

PATIENT RENEWAL

No renewal. Prescriptions have to be kept up to date. 

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

Minor patients must have a legal guardian involved in the enrollment process. A legal guardian must work with a TCUP-registered physician to confirm the minor patient’s eligibility and ensure that the prescription is entered into the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.

No caregivers in the Texas program. 

Possession limits: 

90-day supply. 

Dispensaries: 

Once the prescription is entered, the patient may contact a licensed Texas dispensing organization to have it filled. The patient will need to provide identifying information, such as their name, date of birth, and the last digits of their identification, and then arrange pickup or delivery in accordance with the dispensing organization’s procedures.

Home Cultivation:

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Legal Protection for Possession

Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.111(e)(1) provides exemptions from state laws prohibiting possession of marijuana for patients and their legal guardians when low-THC cannabis is prescribed under a valid prescription and obtained from a licensed dispensing organization.

This protection applies only when the patient is participating in the Texas Compassionate Use Program and the low-THC cannabis is obtained through the state’s legal dispensing system.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered or documented in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued on April 28, 2026, AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification, registration, or similar state medical authorization as comparable to a prescription under federal law. This means that participation in Texas’s program may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s prescription and program status must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Access to Licensed Medical Cannabis Providers

Patients with a valid prescription entered into the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas may obtain low-THC cannabis from a licensed Texas dispensing organization. Texas does not require a separate patient application or medical cannabis card, but the prescription must be entered into CURT before a licensed provider can dispense the medication.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Participation helps demonstrate continued patient need for Texas’s medical cannabis program. A strong program helps protect and sustain access for patients with serious health needs and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway for cannabis access in Texas.

The state of Texas does not recognize out-of-state patients. For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.