Texas advances Phase II of Compassionate Use Program expansion

Texas DPS opens next phase of applicant selection for medical cannabis access, as program expansions continue alongside ongoing regulatory disputes.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

Texas has initiated Phase II of its Compassionate Use Program expansion selection process, according to an announcement from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The move marks another step in broadening access to medical cannabis in the state, which has operated under a limited low-THC program framework.

The announcement arrives amid a complex regulatory environment. Recent coverage shows Texas simultaneously expanding medical cannabis access—approving new vaporization devices and dispensary locations in major metros—while facing litigation over hemp products and a reinstated synthetic cannabinoid ban. Lawmakers have signaled broader cannabis regulation may arrive as soon as 2027.

The Phase II process suggests state officials are pursuing structured expansion despite unresolved questions around hemp-derived products and federal reclassification dynamics. Watch whether Phase II applicant criteria reflect any shifts in the state's approach to product types or patient populations eligible for compassionate use.