In a significant move for medical cannabis access in Texas, state lawmakers have reached an agreement to expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TEACUP), the state’s official medical cannabis initiative. This expansion marks a major step forward for patients and advocates who have long pushed for broader eligibility and access to legal THC-based treatments.
As it stands, only three cannabis providers are currently licensed under the TEACUP program. The newly approved legislation will increase that number to 15, significantly boosting access for patients across the state. More notably, the expansion includes a new category of eligible patients: individuals suffering from chronic pain.
The path to defining "chronic pain" for TEACUP eligibility, however, was not straightforward. An early version of the legislation sought to define chronic pain as pain persisting for more than 90 days after a prescription opioid treatment.
After deliberation, the final compromise redefined chronic pain as persistent, severe pain that lasts more than 90 days and for which THC is a viable method of treatment. This broader, more inclusive definition is seen as a win by both medical professionals and patients who advocate for cannabis as a safer, more sustainable pain management option.
The push to expand TEACUP gained further traction amid rising concerns over unregulated THC products being sold over the counter. In parallel with the TEACUP expansion, lawmakers also voted to ban non-prescription THC products. Supporters of the ban argue that individuals who genuinely need THC for medical use should access it through a controlled, physician-supervised program like TEACUP.
“This is a move toward more responsible cannabis policy in Texas,” said one advocate. “It ensures that patients who need THC are getting it safely and legally, while also cracking down on potentially unsafe over-the-counter products.”
The expansion of the TEACUP program reflects a growing shift in Texas policy, where lawmakers are beginning to acknowledge both the medical value of cannabis and the need for safer regulation. As more patients seek alternatives to opioids and traditional pharmaceuticals, medical cannabis is becoming an increasingly viable—and accepted—treatment option.
With these new changes, Texas joins a growing number of states that are rethinking medical cannabis laws, balancing patient access with public safety and regulatory oversight.
