The Texas House approved a bill on April 28, 2021 that will expand the state's medical cannabis program.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, House Bill 1535 that just passed the Texas House will help patients with chronic pain, cancer patients, and those suffering from PTSD.

The bill will have to go through a final vote in the Texas House, then the Senate will consider the bill and then it is passed on to the governor to be signed into law.

The bill would also raise the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit from 0.5% to 5.0% and allow higher doses to those currently in the Texas Medical Cannabis Program.

“There's an incredibly restrictive cap on THC,” said Heather Fazio, Director of Texans For Responsible Marijuana Policy. “Low levels of THC will work for some people but it doesn't work for others. And so what we think is that doctors need to be the ones making these decisions, not lawmakers.”

Two other bills, one passed on Wednesday also reduces penalties of possession of some marijuana concentrate. The other bill would lessen the possession of one ounce or less of cannabis, and take away jail time or losing your driver's license for possession.

“Not that we want to condone young people smoking weed, but the punishment for possessing it shouldn't be harsher than the actual use of the plant,” Fazio said. “The penalties have caused far more harm than smoking marijuana ever could.”

The Texas House has been more receptive to these bills than the Texas Senate, the last time a bill was presented to the Senate easing penalties for possession, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick would not even let it go to a vote.

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