Texas lawmakers are on the verge of significantly expanding the state’s medical marijuana program, even as a sweeping ban on hemp-derived THC products is poised to take effect. House Bill 46, which has passed both legislative chambers and now awaits final approval, would allow patients with chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, terminal illness, and those in hospice care to qualify for medical cannabis. The bill also permits new forms of consumption, such as vaporized and aerosol products via prescription, and expands the number of dispensaries from three to twelve, with additional satellite locations to improve patient access.

This expansion comes amid a pending statewide ban on consumable hemp products containing THC, which will leave the medical marijuana program as the only legal route for Texans seeking THC-based relief. Lawmakers say these changes will help patients who currently struggle to access medical cannabis, particularly as unregulated hemp products are removed from the market. For more details, see the original article at MSN.