You might be considering medical marijuana as a treatment option for a health condition, and you probably expect that you need to get a card to do so in Texas. But before you start googling “how to get medical marijuanas card”, let us answer the most frequently asked questions to guide you through the process of legally obtaining medical marijuana in Texas.
First things first: there is no such thing as a card. In the Lone Star State, patients who are eligible to use medical marijuana as a treatment option can apply to get approved for a prescription, not a card. Once approved, your medical cannabis doctor will add your name to the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) which will allow Texas dispensaries to fill the prescription provided to you by that doctor (who is also required to be registered with the state). So basically, in Texas you get registered in a state system and what you get is an approved prescription, not a card in the mail.
Are you eligible to get on the medical marijuana registry in Texas?
The Lone Star State approved the use of medical marijuana in 2015 with the adoption of the Compassionate Use Program and the regulation has evolved since, expanding the list of eligible conditions and simplifying the process to access this treatment alternative.
In order to be added to the medical marijuana registry, a patient has to meet the following basic requirements:
- Be a permanent Texas resident.
- Have a qualifying medical condition as determined by law.
- Be evaluated and obtain a prescription from a qualified physician who has registered with the state of Texas to prescribe cannabis to their patients.
If you meet all of the above requirements the answer is most likely yes, you can be eligible to get on the registry. If you are not sure whether you have a qualifying medical condition, read-on!
What illnesses qualify for medical marijuana in Texas?
The list of eligible conditions to access medical cannabis legally in Texas includes epilepsy and other seizure disorders, cancer, autism, spasticity, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), incurable neurodegenerative diseases and any other medical conditions approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
How to find medical cannabis doctors in Texas?
Only doctors registered in the CURT are legally allowed to prescribe medical marijuana in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a search tool available for patients looking to find a registered provider.
Lucky for you, you already found us so you are already one step ahead in your journey! We have a team of expert medical providers for you to choose from. No matter where you are located in the state of Texas, you can schedule a virtual appointment and meet with us from the comfort of your own home.
How to get a cannabis prescription in Texas?
Now that we have established that patients need a prescription (not a card), you have an eligible condition and have found a registered cannabis doctor, let’s look at how to get your prescription. The process is actually fairly simple and involves 3 easy steps:
1- Request a virtual appointment and provide supporting documents of your qualifying medical condition for review (ie. reference from your primary care physician or specialist, any existing prescriptions you are taking to treat your condition). If you suspect you suffer from PTSD but have not been diagnosed, we can conduct that evaluation during an initial visit.
2- Once we confirm that you qualify after reviewing your supporting documentation (*), we’ll provide a link for you to schedule an appointment with one of our certified medical providers. The appointment is crucial to determine the best cannabis compound customized specifically to your needs and to answer any questions you might have.
(*) We will contact you if we need additional records to support eligibility or if we need to schedule a visit to evaluate a PTSD diagnosis if one is not in place yet.
3- After your appointment, your marijuana doctor will register your name in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) and will also provide your personalized prescription which you can fill at Texas Original or any other of the Texas dispensaries.
How long Is my prescription valid for?
Your Texas Cannabis Clinic prescription is valid for six (6) months, as we think it’s important to schedule a follow-up visit with your prescribing physician at most 6 months into your treatment to review your progress and to make any adjustments necessary. Also, dispensaries are often adjusting their offerings and if a new product comes out that would fit your condition better than what we had previously prescribed, we want to discuss that new option with you and make it accessible in a timely fashion. Your provider will give you an updated prescription for the next 6 months (if applicable) after which a renewal of your prescription will be required to continue with the treatment.
Can patients fill marijuana prescriptions out of state?
Registered Texan patients’ legal access to cannabis within the Compassionate Use Program rules is restricted to the state of Texas. Also, Texas dispensaries can only fill prescriptions for patients registered in the CURT, so out-of-state patients who hold medical marijuana cards from a different state cannot fill their prescriptions in Texas dispensaries.
So there you have it! Provided you meet the basic requirements to be eligible to participate in the Compassionate Use Program, obtaining a medical marijuana prescription in Texas is pretty simple. Ready to get started? We are here for you!