Texas Compassionate Use Program

What is medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana is a plant-based treatment derived from the Cannabis sativa L. plant. It contains cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These substances can offer pain-relieving, muscle-relaxing, and anti-spasticity effects. While THC is the compound typically associated with the “high” of recreational use, medical-cannabis products under the Texas program are formulated at low-THC levels to focus on symptom relief rather than psychoactive effects.

What is the Texas Compassionate Use Program?

Under Texas law, although non-medical cannabis remains federally illegal, the state’s Compassionate Use Program allows physicians registered with the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) to prescribe low-THC cannabis to qualifying patients. In recent years, the program has expanded. For example, starting September 1, 2025, the legislative changes allow new methods of administration (including inhalation) and relax potency limits—making the program more accessible.

What conditions are treatable under the Compassionate Use Program?

As of the most recent update, the program covers a broad set of qualifying conditions, including but not limited to:

• Chronic pain (including neuropathic pain)
• Crohn’s disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Terminal illness or hospice/palliative-care patients
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cancer (all cancer diagnoses)
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain)
• Spasticity (muscle spasms)
• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-type neurodegenerative diseases
• Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
• More than 100 other incurable neurodegenerative diseases

If you have one of these disorders or a related condition, Texas Pain & Orthopedics may be able to assist your treatment regimen with low-THC cannabis.

How do I get a medical cannabis prescription under the Compassionate Use Program?

You may be eligible if you are a permanent Texas resident and you have one of the approved qualifying conditions. Patients under age 18 may require a legal guardian’s involvement. Your first step is to schedule an appointment with a CURT-registered physician at Texas Pain & Orthopedics. During the consultation, the physician assesses whether the potential benefit of medical cannabis outweighs the risks. If approved, the physician submits your prescription electronically through the CURT. Once your registration appears in the system, you or your legal guardian can visit a licensed dispensary in Texas. You will need to provide identification, your last name, date of birth, and the last five digits of your Social Security number so the dispensary can verify your status before filling your prescription.

How do I determine if a cannabis product is “medical-grade”?

A medical-grade cannabis product is one that is produced under strict quality, manufacturing, and testing standards tailored for patients rather than general consumer use.

Key items to look for include:

• A Certificate of Analysis (CoA) that is either physically attached or reliably accessible online. This document shows the exact potency (THC, CBD, other cannabinoids) and confirms the absence of harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides, and microbial impurities.
• Full transparency from the manufacturer or dispensary: the product should clearly list ingredients, cannabinoid breakdown, manufacturing batch number, and date.
• Evidence that the product was developed for treatment of medical conditions—i.e., the formulation is optimized for symptom relief, not simply for recreational effect.

In short, don’t assume all cannabis products are equal: medical-grade means regulated, tested, consistent, and designed for patient use under the program.

How do I find a licensed dispensary under the program?

To legally obtain your prescribed medical cannabis, you must go to a state-licensed dispensing organization that participates in the Texas CUP. Tips to consider when looking for a dispensary include:

• Confirm the dispensary is licensed and authorized under the Texas program.
• Ask whether they provide CoAs and make them available for each batch—this is a good sign of commitment to quality and transparency.
• Ensure the dispensary adheres to the state’s rules around administration method, dosing limits and approved product types. For example, smoking remains prohibited under Texas law for medical cannabis, but under new legislation (HB 46), other methods such as inhalation or vapor may become permissible.
• Making sure they adhere to state regulations and ensure that all products are manufactured in-house.​ 
• You may also ask the dispensary to verify your registration via the CURT system and walk you through product selection consistent with your prescription.

If you believe medical cannabis could help and you’ve explored other treatments without success, contact Texas Pain & Orthopedics today. Call the office or request an appointment online.