Debates over medical marijuana have taken place all over the United States, with some states even enacting their own laws to allow it. In Texas, the Compassionate Use Program (CUP) permits certain patients to use medical cannabis.
Yet even as the state keeps a tight grip on marijuana, more and more Texans are coming to see the plant as a source of medicinal treatment. Medical marijuana Texas dispensaries are continuing to open, providing life-altering care to patients who can’t find relief in pharmaceutical products.
Understanding Texas’ Medical Marijuana Laws
Texas has approached medical marijuana legislation with a lot of safeguards. Compassionate Use Act, signed into law in 2015, allowed a form of medical cannabis (with lower THC levels) for patients with intractable epilepsy. Over the years, the Act expanded to nearly quadruple the list of conditions that allows patients to use medical marijuana.
The Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana
Despite the lower accessibility in Texas, medical marijuana Texas still offers a range of significant health benefits. Cannabis treats a host of serious conditions and has helped countless individuals reclaim (or retain) a better quality of life. Here are some of the conditions in which it has shown to be effective.
Pain Management
Patients seeking medical cannabis do so primarily because of chronic pain, one of the most prevalent health complaints. Many studies have shown that marijuana can alleviate various kinds of pain, including visceral pain (pain involving the internal organs, often misdiagnosed as arthritis or fibromyalgia).
Cannabis provides hope for many chronic pain patients who have had to rely solely on opioids and other potentially harmful medications.
Relief from Neurological Disorders
The core beneficiaries the original design of the Texas’ medical marijuana program were patients with epilepsy, and rightly so. Cannabis has been shown to reduce the number of seizures and the intensity of seizures in patients with epilepsy.
Moreover, there may well be neuroprotective effects of medical marijuana that are beneficial for patients with other kinds of seizures, though they haven’t yet been studied enough.
Management of PTSD and Mental Health Conditions
Medical cannabis could be a pathway to relief for veterans and other individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder. Research so far suggests marijuana can:
- Reduce anxiety
- Decrease frequency and intensity of nightmares
- Mitigate hyperarousal symptoms tied to PTSD
Many patients say cannabis has improved their depression and anxiety, but there still hasn’t been enough research performed in this area to accurately gauge medical marijuana’s effect on these conditions.
Cancer Symptom Management
Patients with cancer who receive chemotherapy frequently suffer from nausea, vomiting, and a lack of appetite. Medically prescribed marijuana has gained a reputation for relieving these symptoms, allowing it to become easier for the patients to maintain their nutritional intake and improve their general health and well-being during chemotherapy.
Improvement in Autism Symptoms
An increasing number of individuals are exploring the use of marijuana for medical purposes to treat autism. Some studies suggest that marijuana can help reduce aggressive, anxious, and self-injurious behaviors in some individuals with autism.
Texas has included autism on its list of qualifying conditions, so the state now offers a potential alternative that some families might find helpful.
The Challenges to Access in Texas
Even though cannabis-based treatments have potential medical benefits, getting them in Texas is not as simple as it is in other states. Patients must receive a prescription from a state-registered physician, and there are a limited number of doctors authorized to prescribe medical marijuana Texas.
Another major challenge is the limited number of dispensaries in Texas, which forces some patients to travel long distances to obtain their medication. For those living in rural areas, this can be a significant barrier to access.
The Future of Medical Cannabis in Texas
The movement to grow Texas’ medical marijuana program is gathering momentum. More patients, doctors, and lawmakers now seem ready to embrace the concept of a new and expansive cannabis program; a radical reimagining of the still very young medical marijuana laws in Texas.
Support for Medical Marijuana Texas Is Growing, as Are Its Benefits
Texas patients with numerous health issues, from chronic pain to cancer, could benefit greatly from medical marijuana. While Texas’ current laws remain restrictive, ongoing research and advocacy efforts could pave the way for expanded access in the future. For many patients, medical marijuana represents not just a treatment option, but a chance for a better quality of life.
