In a surprise turn of events from the information the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) posted on September 16th, the department has decided to suspend the application process until further notice.
In an email a representative from DPS offered the following statement:
“The department will continue to assess dispensing capacity requirements, along with the need for any additional licenses, as we work through recent legislative changes to the program…The department is suspending the application process for licenses in the Compassionate Use Program, effective immediately. We will review the program and the need for any additional licenses again in the coming months.”
Representative Stephanie Klick told the Texas Tribune, “Hang tight for now, this is likely just a temporary delay until we know which of the incurable neurodegenerative conditions are appropriate to be included on the list.”
Jax Finkel, Executive director of TXNORML gave testimony Thursday morning stating, “The lack of communication regarding the reason for suspension leaves room for conjecture
while leaving potential applicants and patients that hope to join the program confused and stressed…DPS’s public statement says they need to “review the program and the need for any additional licenses again in the coming months.” It is not unreasonable to think that DPS evaluated the program and potential patient growth before announcing the
intent to open up more licenses.”
Finkel also outlined the dates of DSHS having public opinion and submitting language on incurable neurodegenerative diseases would appear to have minimal impact on when DPS should be reviewing how it will handle application for new dispensaries in Texas. This leads to noting that the delay will do nothing but delay when a newly licensed dispensary can start harvesting a crop and get Texans the medicine they are now eligible for under the new law change.
Heather Fazio of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy noted in her testimony that upon DPS making its review that, “you to please reconsider the licensing fees; to bring them down to
something more reasonable. Unnecessarily high fees burden businesses (locking out small businesses entirely) and the cost is ultimately passed along to the consumer. In this case, we’re talking about very sick people who are often surviving on a strictly limited income.”
“The licensing fees in Texas are higher than anywhere in the country, and we have one of the most restrictive markets since lawmakers continue to relegate most patients to the illicit market.
For reference:
Texas: $488K licensing fee/$318K renewal fee (every two years)
Nevada: $30K licensing /renewal fee (annually)
Arizona: $5K licensing fee/$1K renewal (annually)
Other state licensing fees are documented here: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/state-state-guide-marijuana-applicationlicensing-fees/”
To say there has been conjecture about this is light, Texas Veterans for Medical Marijuana posted a link to an Austin American Statesman article with the statement “I smell dirty dealing”
Others have offered their own conspiracies as to what is going down.
Is it possible as well that with the recent hearing on implementing the hemp law in Texas, forcing DSHS to create Chapter 443 of the Health and Safety code, that DPS is deciding to step back and review whether or not more facilities need to be opened when THC drug testing may become an item of the past legally?