For too long, Texas residents living with chronic pain have had few safe, legal options for relief. But with the passage of House Bill 46, our state has taken a major step forward—finally expanding the Texas Compassionate Use Program to include chronic pain as an eligible condition for medical cannabis.

This is a life-changing shift. It means that patients who have endured years of debilitating pain and reliance on addictive opioids could soon find safer, more effective relief through medical marijuana. It means veterans, working parents, grandparents, and countless others can regain control over their pain—and their lives.

But just because the bill passed doesn’t mean it’s real for the people who need it most. Dallas has only a handful of dispensaries—most patients can’t afford the medication, can’t find a licensed provider nearby, or are still stuck in legal limbo.

We call on the Texas Department of Public Safety, Governor Abbott, and state regulators to act urgently:
Fast-track licensing for more dispensaries in Dallas, ensure fair prices, and start accepting chronic pain patients immediately under the expanded Compassionate Use Program.

Texans living in chronic pain have waited long enough. This isn’t about getting high, it’s about getting help.