Texas has some of the most stringent marijuana laws in the U.S. Recreational adult-use marijuana is illegal, and medical marijuana is legal but heavily regulated. Only patients with qualifying conditions can access medical marijuana.

Since 2015 Texas has recognized marijuana for medical use for Epilepsy. Since then, the qualifying conditions list has expanded, including PTSD and all forms of Cancer, as of September 2021.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that destroys the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord over time. People with this disease gradually lose the ability to control voluntary muscle movements. In advanced stages, ALS patients end up paralyzed and experience difficulty speaking, eating, swallowing, and breathing.

Medical cannabis is quickly becoming a go-to choice for many patients when it comes to treating pain. In fact, according to a study published in 2016 in the Journal of Pain, cannabis use resulted in 64% lower opioid use in patients with chronic pain and better quality of life.

When an individual has dementia, their daily routine and activities are adversely affected due to the deterioration of their ability to think, remember, make decisions, reason, and solve problems. Aside from cognitive decline, dementia patients tend to have behavioral symptoms such as depression, anxiety, aggression, and agitation. Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent type of this disorder, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases.

In 2009, New Mexico became the first state to explicitly authorize the use of medical cannabis for people with PTSD. While there had been no studies of the effects of cannabis on PTSD symptoms before this decision, there had been case reports that had shown some promise.

On April 1, 2022, the United States House of Representatives passed the 'MORE' Act or Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act. Considered a watershed moment for federal cannabis legalization in the United States, the bill would effectively decriminalize cannabis possession and usage if signed into law.

Renowned physician and co-founder of Thrive Medical Cannabis is guiding Texas patients toward safe, effective treatment options.

When it was time to transition back to a “normal” life, Rodrigo struggled as many other veterans do. The emotional side of transitioning was very tough and having to explain what he went through and was going through at that time to people around him was not easy and usually did not help.

Texas has been known for having a firm stance on cannabis being illegal for recreational use. However, recent legislation has opened up access to medicinal cannabis products in the state for millions of more Texans.