How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Texas [2024 Guide]
As one of the country's most conservative states, Texas has long been very unfriendly to cannabis use. In fact, until the 1970s, Texas's medical marijuana laws were the strictest in the nation, with some of the harshest penalties imposed on offenders.
Nevertheless, times are changing, and cannabis's tide is turning throughout the USA. In 2015, the Texas Legislature first approved a bill allowing medical marijuana. However, this medical legalization only applies to low-THC MMJ products (no more than 1% by weight).
In 2018, the first medical marijuana sale took place in Texas. As of 2022, there are nearly 43,056 registered medical marijuana patients in the state. However, this number is likely to grow as time goes on, considering millions more may qualify under the current Texas MMJ laws.
As time goes on, the legalization process will likely continue in Texas as it is in the rest of the United States despite its heavily conservative political culture.
Recreational marijuana still remains illegal in Texas. Residents caught with two ounces of cannabis or less – and who don’t have their medical card – face a Class B misdemeanor, which can be punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. House Bill 441 would have reduced cannabis-related penalties and arrests, but the bill failed. In the meantime, several cities and counties in the state have passed measures working toward decriminalization.
How Do I Become a Medical Cannabis Patient in Texas?
Unlike many states with medical marijuana programs, Texas does not issue MMJ licenses. Instead, evaluating physicians in the state merely prescribe medicinal cannabis to qualifying patients.
To become a medical cannabis patient in Texas, just follow these easy steps:
1.) Determine if you have one of the qualifying medical conditions
2.) Receive a medical evaluation from a state-licensed doctor. You can see a knowledgeable, state-licensed physician with NuggMD in Texas today. No appointment is needed.
3.) Once approved, your information will be submitted to the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (the CURT system). Unlike other states, Texas patients do not need to pay a fee to the state to register with the state MMJ program. All that's necessary is for their evaluating physician to submit their medical marijuana prescription to the CURT system.
4.) Fill your MMJ prescription at your local dispensary. Once your prescription is entered into the CURT system by your doctor, you can fill your prescription at your local Texas dispensary and begin MMJ treatments.
How Do I Renew a Med Card in Texas?
Rather than requiring you to renew your registration annually, Texas treats medical cannabis more like a prescription. Renewal times for your prescription depend on the doctor, but most Texas physicians follow up with their patients 2 to 4 times a year, depending on medical need.
Doctors at NuggMD generally prefer to follow up within three months, with the cost of your first follow-up included in the price of your initial evaluation. Depending on severity and the physician's judgment, some conditions may warrant more frequent follow-ups throughout the year.
Who Qualifies for Medical Cannabis in Texas?
Patients may qualify for medical marijuana prescriptions if they meet the following criteria:
- They are a permanent resident of Texas,
- They suffer from one of the qualifying conditions listed below,
- They receive a prescription from a state-licensed physician,
Qualified patients do not need to be 18 or older to receive an MMJ prescription. However, minors do need legal guardians to receive their prescriptions.
What Are the Qualifying Conditions to Get a Med Card in Texas?
By law, only Texas patients with the following qualifying medical conditions can purchase medical marijuana in the state:
- Epilepsy
- Seizure disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spasticity
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Autism
- Cancer
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- An incurable neurodegenerative disease
- A medical condition designated by the Health and Human Services Commission as authorizing treatment with low-THC cannabis as part of an approved research program.
How to Find a Texas Medical Marijuana Doctor for an MMJ Evaluation
In early 2021, there were fewer than 300 state-licensed MMJ doctors in Texas. With less than 1% of physicians in the state qualified to issue MMJ recommendations, you may find it challenging to receive an evaluation.
Luckily, you can receive your necessary evaluation online using NuggMD. Many state-licensed evaluating physicians in Texas use NuggMD to virtually meet with their patients.
You should have your medical records on hand because your physician will need them during your evaluation. These records could include:
- Patient charts
- Current prescriptions
- Physical therapy records
- Medical test results
- Hospital records
There are currently few qualified physicians in Texas available to issue MMJ prescriptions. If you're having difficulty finding one in your local area, you can always visit NuggMD Texas to receive a virtual evaluation from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Get Your Medical Cannabis Recommendation Online: The NuggMD Process
Receiving your MMJ evaluation using NuggMD is quick and easy! Here's how you can do it in Texas:
- Create an account on nuggmd.com/texas.
- Kick back to the NuggMD virtual waiting room to connect with your evaluating physician.
- Wait for your doctor to enter your prescription into the CURT system, then fill your prescription at a state-approved dispensary.
And that's it! It's really that easy!
What to Expect When Talking to a Texas Medical Marijuana Doctor on NuggMD
First and foremost, you will be expected to provide your NuggMD evaluating physician with information about your current medications and medical treatments. Before your evaluation, you can upload your medical records and documents on the NuggMD platform. This information is needed to conduct your MMJ evaluation.
Your evaluating physician may request additional medical documents before issuing you a Texas MMJ recommendation, depending on the circumstances.
Before you actually sit down for your evaluation, it's best to write down your questions. Then, you'll have some time to do so while waiting in our virtual waiting room. The evaluating physicians are not merely there to issue MMJ recommendations. All are willing and able to answer any questions you may have or provide you with information regarding the potential benefits and pitfalls of medical marijuana treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Cannabis in Texas
What Types of Cannabis Products Are Available in Texas?
Currently, only medical marijuana products with less than 1% THC by weight are allowed and available in Texas. The state doesn't allow any inhaled forms of cannabis, so most products available at dispensaries are in edible form, although you'll find topicals, suppositories, and transdermal patches on occasion. Most importantly, your dosage and means of administration are determined by your recommending doctor.
THC edibles in Texas range in potency from CBD-only to THC-only and all ratios in between. Many believe that Texas has no traditional 10mg THC edibles, but they do. THC concentration is limited by weight, not in relation to CBD content. Many critics have stated that the only thing this limit accomplishes is that the patient must consume more sugar, carrier oil, or other unhealthy additives in order to achieve a therapeutic benefit.
It's difficult to understand the legislature's reasoning for the THC by weight limitation, but the end result is that you'll find plenty of THC-infused gummies and tinctures at the dispensary that are similar to products you find in other, more traditional markets.
What Does Marijuana Feel Like?
Generally speaking, most people find that using marijuana makes them feel relaxed, euphoric, and reflective. However, the effects of marijuana can vary significantly depending on the dose and relative amount of CBD.
Typical cannabis effects are:
- Reduction in energy or motivation (couchlock),
- Increased laughter,
- Altered sense of time (either faster or slower),
- Difficulty concentrating,
- Relaxation and calm,
- Minor temporary memory loss or difficulty forming new memories.
Marijuana users could experience some unpleasant effects of cannabis use if their dosage is too high. Too much weed could produce the effects a patient sought to alleviate. For example, you could feel paranoid or nauseous after too much cannabis.
Some doctors prescribe starting doses as high as 10mg THC. However, this could still be too much for some patients. Many patients feel effects with dosages as low as 2.5mg. Be sure to work with your evaluating physician to adjust your MMJ dosages as necessary.
Everyone's body is different. As a result, the onset of marijuana's effects could also vary considerably. It's not uncommon for effects to take between 30 - 180 minutes to first be felt, depending on the product type and the person.
If you've never used marijuana products before, it's usually a good idea to have a friend or trusted loved one sit with you. Some people find the effects of edible cannabis to be very strong, much stronger than inhaled forms, and very difficult to titrate at first.
What If My Dose Is Too High?
It's not uncommon to need dosage adjustments when beginning medical cannabis therapy, especially when using edible forms of THC.
If you find that your first dose is too high, don't panic. The very heavy effects tend to wear off after about 3 hours, with lingering tiredness lasting up to 8 hours. Contact your evaluating physician if you feel like your prescribed dosage is too high for you. From there, they can adjust it to something more appropriate.
Have More Questions About How to Get Your Med Card in Texas?
If you have additional questions, visit our complete Texas medical cannabis FAQs or check out one of our other Iowa-specific patient resources.
- Texas Cannabis Laws & Regulations
- Qualifying Conditions in Texas
- Benefits of Getting a Med Card in Texas
- How to Become a Caregiver in Texas
If you would like to speak to a medical cannabis customer support specialist before, during, or after your MMJ evaluation, don't hesitate to reach out to NuggMD.
We know better than anybody that the medical marijuana process can be confusing, especially if you haven't been a patient before. The NuggMD customer support team can help answer all your questions, whether they are about state or local laws, required documentation, and more.
NuggMD has helped 1,300,000 patients connect with their MMJ doctors throughout the country. All physicians and practitioners on the NuggMD platform are fully licensed in the state for which they provide evaluations and have received all state-required medical marijuana training and certifications.
