Crockett on medical marijuana use: 'Doctors know what's best for their patients – not the government'

On Jan. 21, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) filed House Bill 1233, a bill that would make it easier to prescribe low-THC cannabis under the Texas Compassionate Use Program. The bill was read the first time and referred to the House Public Health Committee on March 4.

“What’s a medical refugee? One of the countless folks leaving Texas for a state with medical marijuana so they can receive the lifesaving treatments they need. We can not let stigma and politics interfere with medicine and evidence-based treatments. That’s why I filed HB 1233,” Crockett wrote in a series of tweets on April 20. “Doctors know what’s best for their patients — not the government. HB 1233 gives physicians full discretion over medical cannabis treatments including the dosage, potency and route of administration. Medical marijuana isn’t just used to treat uncomfortable conditions — physicians rely on this to treat deadly ailments and see great results not achieved through traditional pharmaceuticals.”

Another bill related to expansion of medical marijuana use passed the House Public Health Committee unanimously on April 7. Sponsored by Chairwoman Stephanie Klick (R-TX), House Bill 1535 adds certain conditions to qualify individuals to participate in the medical marijuana program. Those individuals who could qualify include veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder, individuals with chronic pain, and those with cancer. The Department of State Health Services would be able to add more qualifying conditions.

Crockett’s bill would only allow a physician to prescribe low-THC cannabis to alleviate specific medical conditions if the doctor is licensed and board certified in a medical specialty related to the patient’s condition. The bill would only qualify Texas residents to participate in the program.

Currently, the Texas Compassionate Use Program allows Texans with epilepsy, autism and a few other conditions to use low-THC cannabis to treat their medical conditions. And the limit of THC in medical cannabis products is only slightly higher than CBD oil that is available to the public - .5%. The limit in Klick’s bill would increase to 5%.

Advocates of medical marijuana say that these bills are a start, but that they could have gone further, like taking action to remove any cap on THC, provide protections for legal physician and patients and to let doctors decide who might qualify, instead of sticking to a rigid list of conditions.