Medical Cannabis HB 1535 gets committee hearing and passes

The Senate suspended the posting notice for a committee hearing and HB 1535 was given a State Affairs Committee hearing. The bill was voted out 8-0 with no testimony given.

There are some notable changes with the committee substitute that has come out from the hearing. The THC cap has been set a 1% instead of 5%. Chronic pain has been struck from the bill completely. As well, the condition that would result in a patient being prescribed an opiate has been struck from the language. The original language of HB 1535 read:

(ix)a condition that causes chronic pain, for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid

The section which also provided the language necessary for DSHS to evaluate which conditions could be added to the program has been removed. The original language read as follows:

(xii)a debilitating medical condition designated by the Department of State Health Services under Subsection (b); (b)The Department of State Health Services by rule may designate debilitating medical conditions for which a physician may prescribe low-THC cannabis under this section.

That has been completely stricken from the substituted bill. Now the complete list of things to be covered by TCUP is as follows if the bill passes the Senate and conference committee, as well as signed by the governor:

(i) epilepsy;
(ii) a seizure disorder;
(iii) multiple sclerosis;
(iv) spasticity;
(v) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
(vi) autism;
(vii) [terminal] cancer; [or]
(viii) an incurable neurodegenerative disease;
(ix) post-traumatic stress disorder; or
(x) a medical condition that is approved for a research program under Subchapter F, Chapter 487, Health and Safety Code, and for which the patient is receiving treatment under that program;

Advocates in the space have been advising followers to keep an eye out for further movement and be ready to contact their senators to support the bill if need be.