The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill that would expand those who qualify for the Texas medical marijuana program, otherwise known as the Compassionate Use Act, towards those who suffer from chronic pain.

The House voted approval of the bill 127-19. This would increase the amount of Texas residents who qualify for the state’s medical marijuana program and raise the prescribed dosage to 10mg of cannabis.

The majority of Texans who qualify for the medical marijuana program have cancer, posttraumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, seizures, autism, etc. This does not mean smoking marijuana. Instead, it is limited to swallowing. 

But the bill would also add those who suffer from chronic pain to qualify as well. The reason for this is to be an alternative to opioids. So if a patient had chronic pain that a doctor would typically prescribe opioids for, the doctor can instead prescribe them for medical marijuana.

Additionally, the bill would give the Department of State Health Services the ability to add more medical conditions that qualify for the medical marijuana program.