Announcing: Regional Advocacy Workshops in January 2020!
December 9, 2019End of Year Discount – Save 25%!
December 17, 2019The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has approved a broad definition of “incurable neurodegenerative disease,” a condition that now qualifies a patient to participate in the Texas Compassionate Use Program (T.CUP).
As of December 5, 2019, patients with the following diagnosis (and more than 100 others) may participate in our state’s low-THC medical cannabis program:
Alzheimer’s Disease and several forms of dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, several forms of muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s Disease, motor neuron diseases like ALS, multiple mitochondrial conditions, creatine disorders, and neurotransmitter defect.
Find a full list of the newly added conditions here.
Additionally, the rule allows “a treating physician of a patient suffering from an incurable neurodegenerative disease not listed… may submit a request to the department to have a disease added.”
More information about this new definition, the process by which it was approved, and resources for patients who’d like to participate can be found here.
The Department of State Health State Health Services (DSHS) has released the draft of their Consumable Hemp Product Program regulations. Read the draft language. If you would like to give feedback on these regulations you can do so by emailing your feedback to [email protected] before 5pm on December 31st, 2019.
Additionally, DSHS will also be conducting a public hearing to receive comments on the informal draft of rules on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, from 9:00am to 12:00pm. The meeting will take place at the main DSHS offices in Room M-100, Moreton Building, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756. The hearing will also be webcast here (click on Moreton M-100 Tab).
Please note that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has also announced the Texas Hemp Program outline has been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for approval. This document, and the changes to state rules that establish the new program, must be approved and finalized before TDA can begin granting licenses to legally grow hemp in Texas. Learn more.
Between legislative sessions, leaders of the House (Speaker) and Senate (Lt. Gov.) task each committee with a set of “interim charges” relating to important matters of public policy. Committees will host hearings, solicit input, and gather information relating to each interim charge. Each committee will put together an interim report for the 87th Legislature, ensuring that members are well informed and can make effective policy changes during the 2021 session.
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (HHS) met to hear from experts and the public regarding and interim charge about the emerging public health concerns from the rise in e-cigarette use and “vaping,” especially among minors; and to determine if additional policies or laws are needed to protect the public’s health. The HHS Committee heard from several panels of doctors, educators, bureaucrats and other experts. Then they accepted comments from the public. Our sister organization, Foundation for an Informed Texas, had their executive director present to offer a Vaping/Vaporizing Fact Sheet and thoughtful testimony.
You can learn more about additional cannabis related interim charges from the Texas House and Texas Senate, as well as more information about each committee hearing interim charges here.