A new legal loophole in Texas might be getting cannabis into the hands of thousands around the state. In no way are we encouraging you to lie or be dishonest, but for those with underlying medical conditions, cannabis is closer than you think.

Now, eligible Texans are granted access to medical marijuana thanks to the state’s Compassionate Use Program (CUP), given by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The new Compassionate Use Program in Texas is under the authority of the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 487. 

Through CUP, the DPS will create a secure online registry of qualified physicians who are legally allowed to prescribe low-THC cannabis products to patients with specific medical conditions. The registry is called the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT), which was designed to keep more than one physician from registering as the prescriber for a single patient. 

CURT is now available for law enforcement agencies and dispensing organizations to validate that patients meet the requirements to obtain low-THC cannabis products. CURT also allows physicians to document input regarding the safety and efficiency of the treatment in their patients who have been prescribed low-THC products.

DPS is also responsible for managing the licensing of organizations that distribute low-THC cannabis products to eligible patients in CURT. CUP notes that low-THC is obtained from the Cannabis Sativa L plant. Low-THC is defined as all aspects of the plant and any compounds, salts, resins, oils, and derivatives that contain no more than 0.5% THC content.

They also add that medical use of these cannabis products must be swallowed instead of smoked, hence the term cannabis “products.”

Here’s a list of what CUP deems eligible for medical marijuana:

• Epilepsy 
• Seizure disorders 
• Multiple sclerosis 
• Spasticity 
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 
• Autism 
• Terminal cancer 
• An incurable neurodegenerative disease 

More outlines to see if you’re eligible for low-THC cannabis is if: 

• The patient is a permanent resident of Texas  
• The patient has one of the medical conditions listed above 
• A CUP registered physician prescribes  
• That qualified physician decides the benefit outweighs the risk  

The process of getting a prescription, as stated by the Texas government:

• The physician will enter a prescription in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT).
• After, the patient or legal guardian can go to any licensed dispensary to get the prescription.
• The patient or legal guardian must provide ID and the patient’s last name, date of birth, and last five digits of their Social Security Number.

There is no age limit for medical prescriptions, but those under 18 will need a legal guardian.