TX Legislators Unmotivated to Pass New Medical Marijuana Reforms

DALLAS, TX —Will the Texas legislature take action on a bill intended to expand Texas’ current medical marijuana program to raise THC limits from 0.5% to 5% by weight, and to broaden who will have access to the drug?

"This is not about getting people high," says Amy Novacek, wife of former Dallas Cowboy and three-time Super Bowl champion Jay Novacek. "This is not about anything but the medicinal use of it prescribed by a doctor."

The Texas House passed its version of the measure, House. Bill 1535, last week. But nothing has happened since.

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Novacek told KDFW-Fox 4 TV that her son, Blake, has suffered since a 2015 head trauma from multiple health issues, including seizures and migraines. According to his parents, their son suffered more than a dozen seizures daily, and medical-grade marijuana is one of the few treatments to alleviate his symptoms.

The Lone Star State does already have a cannabis program on the books, but the allowed concentration of THC THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is barely more than commonly available CBD products available to the general public. THC is the psychoactive element of the plant.

In addition to reducing the amount of liquid their son has to consume on a daily basis, say the Novaceks, the proposal would expand the state's program of medical marijuana to include all Texans suffering from cancer.

The expansion would also welcome patients with debilitating conditions and chronic pain into the program. In addition, and amendment to HB 1535 could include now include all forms of post-traumatic stress instead of being limited to former service members diagnosed with PTSD.

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