How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Texas [2025 Guide]

Adult-use cannabis remains illegal in Texas, but the state’s medical program has grown to cover more patients and allow more treatment options. Under the updated Compassionate Use Program, qualified patients can now access a wider range of products with regulated THC dosing, not just low-THC oils.

In this guide, we’ll explain who qualifies for medical cannabis in Texas, how to apply, and what conditions are approved. We’ll also cover the benefits of joining the program, how to renew your prescription, and what to expect during your evaluation.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Texas in 2025

There are just a few steps to get a medical cannabis prescription in Texas. 

1. Get a Medical Evaluation.

Meet with a physician registered with the Texas Compassionate Use Program (CUP). If you qualify, the doctor will enter your prescription directly into the state’s Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT).

2. Confirm Your Registration.

Texas doesn’t issue physical medical cards. Instead, dispensaries verify your prescription in the CURT database. There’s no extra state application or ID card fee.

3. Fill Your Prescription.

Once approved, you can visit a licensed dispensary to fill your prescription. Patients now have access to a wider range of options, including oils, tinctures, capsules, edibles, patches, lotions, suppositories, inhalers, and aerosol devices. Smoking cannabis and raw flower remain prohibited.

The process to get your Texas medical marijuana prescription is straightforward, and online platforms like NuggMD make it even easier by connecting patients with state-certified physicians from home.

How to Renew a Med Card in Texas

Texas doesn’t issue physical medical cards, so what really needs to be renewed is your prescription in the Compassionate Use Registry (CURT). Each year, patients must meet with a registered physician again so their condition can be re-evaluated and a new prescription entered into the system.

Renewals are quick to complete online, even if your first evaluation was done in person. Services like NuggMD also send helpful reminders before your prescription expires, so you won’t lose access or have a gap in coverage

Who Is Eligible for Medical Cannabis in Texas?

According to the Texas CUP, patients must live in the state and be evaluated by a physician registered with the program. Texas uses a set list of qualifying medical conditions, and only patients diagnosed with one of those conditions can be approved.

To qualify for medical cannabis in Texas, you need to:

• Be at least 18 years old. Patients under 18 may qualify, but they must have a parent or guardian involved in the process.
• Be a Texas resident. Proof of residency, such as a state-issued ID or driver’s license, is required.
• Have a physician’s prescription. A registered Texas doctor must confirm your condition and enter your prescription into the state’s CURT.

Even if you qualify, a prescription doesn’t override workplace or federal restrictions. Employers may still enforce their own drug policies, and federal law complicates firearm ownership for cannabis patients.

What Are the Qualifying Conditions to Get a Med Card in Texas?

According to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, the state uses a fixed list of qualifying medical conditions to determine if a patient qualifies for a cannabis prescription. Patients must be diagnosed with one of these conditions and have a physician registered with the program enter their prescription into the CURT.

Texas’s qualifying conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• An incurable neurodegenerative disease (as defined by the Texas Administrative Code)
• Autism
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Huntington’s disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Muscular dystrophies
• Parkinson’s disease
• Peripheral neuropathies
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Seizure disorders
• Spasticity
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Texas doctors may also prescribe medical cannabis for patients in hospice care or with a terminal illness.

Do you need a diagnosis before meeting the doctor?

Patients generally need a clear diagnosis before a physician can enter a prescription into CURT. The program does not allow cannabis to be prescribed for general symptoms. For example, a symptom like "migraines" doesn't qualify unless it's part of an approved qualifying condition, such as chronic pain.

Can I Get a Texas Medical Card Online?

Yes. Texas allows telehealth appointments for the CUP. Patients can meet with a state-registered physician online, and if approved, their prescription is added directly to the CURT.

Do I Have to Be a State Resident to Get a Medical Cannabis Card?

Yes. Only Texas residents can qualify for the Compassionate Use Program, and proof of residency is required. The state does not accept out-of-state medical cards or issue temporary cards for visitors. Adult-use cannabis also remains illegal.

Some states may honor Texas prescriptions under their own reciprocity laws. Rules vary, so patients should check local regulations of their destination before traveling.

How Fast Can I Get a Texas Medical Card?

Because Texas uses an online registry instead of physical cards, patients are added to the system immediately after their physician enters the prescription. This means you can often purchase from a dispensary the same day you’re approved. 

Online services like NuggMD let patients connect with a qualified doctor in as little as 15 minutes, so the process can move very quickly.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Med Card in Texas?

Texas does not charge a state fee since there is no physical medical card. Patients only pay for the doctor’s evaluation and for the cannabis products they buy at licensed dispensaries.

Insurance does not cover medical cannabis or evaluations. But cost shouldn’t be a barrier to treatment: with NuggMD, if you don’t qualify, you get your money back.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Medical Marijuana Card in Texas?

Because adult-use cannabis is still illegal in Texas, the Compassionate Use Program is the only way to legally access cannabis.

Enrolling in the CUP offers patients several other perks.

• Legal protection. Patients approved through CUP are protected under state law when buying and using cannabis as prescribed.
• Safe and regulated products. Licensed dispensaries must provide lab-tested cannabis. That added testing gives patients peace of mind about safety and quality.
• More product options. CUP now allows oils, capsules, edibles, patches, inhalers, suppositories, and aerosols. This gives patients more treatment choices than before.
• Access for minors and serious conditions. Minors with qualifying conditions and patients receiving hospice or end-of-life care can legally obtain cannabis through CUP.
• Receive proper medical guidance. Get support from a qualified practitioner and, if needed, designate a caregiver, who can help answer your questions and maintain access to your medicine.

Who Can Prescribe Medical Cannabis in Texas?

Only doctors registered with the CUP can prescribe medical cannabis in Texas. Not every physician is enrolled, so patients must meet with a CUP-certified doctor to qualify. 

NuggMD removes the guess work by connecting patients directly with licensed Texas physicians who are approved to prescribe cannabis through the state’s Compassionate Use Program.

How Does a Medical Cannabis Evaluation Work?

A medical cannabis evaluation in Texas is much like any other doctor’s visit. The physician will review your health, discuss your symptoms, and answer your questions to see if cannabis may help.

What should you bring or be ready to discuss in your evaluation?

• Medical history, such as test results, hospital records, or therapy notes.
• A list of current prescriptions or medications.

What questions might you want to ask your medical cannabis doctor?

• Could cannabis help manage my condition?
• Which product forms might work best for me?
• Are there side effects or risks I should know about?
• How might cannabis interact with other medications I’m taking?

There’s no script for getting approved. Each doctor makes their own decision based on your health and diagnosis, so be honest and ask the questions that matter most to you.

Is My Status as a Medical Marijuana Patient Private?

Yes. Your status as a CUP patient is private and protected under HIPAA, which means your medical records and evaluation cannot be shared without your consent. State law allows access to the CURT only when necessary, such as for licensed dispensaries verifying your prescription.

NuggMD is HIPAA compliant and takes protecting patient privacy seriously. If you ever have concerns about confidentiality, you can talk to your doctor during the evaluation or reach out to NuggMD’s support team for help.

Does Texas Allow Patients to Designate a Caregiver?

Yes. Texas patients who are minors or who cannot visit a dispensary on their own may have a caregiver help them. A caregiver is usually a parent, guardian, or legal representative who is authorized to pick up and administer cannabis for the patient.

To become a caregiver, the individual must be added to the patient’s record in the CURT by the prescribing physician. Caregivers then show ID at the dispensary when filling the patient’s prescription.

Have More Questions About How to Get Your Med Card in Texas?

Getting approved for medical cannabis in Texas is easier than many patients expect. With the Compassionate Use Program now expanded, more conditions and more product options are available than ever before.

If you’re ready to start, you can connect with a state-certified doctor online in as little as 15 minutes. Many patients are able to fill their prescription the day they're approved.

And with NuggMD, you get approved or you get your money back.

Still have questions? Learn more about Texas’s cannabis laws and regulations, visit our Texas patient FAQs page, or contact our support team before, curing, or after your evaluation to speak to a medical cannabis customer support specialist.

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