How to Get a Medical Marijuana Prescription in Texas

What Is the Texas Compassionate Use Program?

The Texas Department of Public Safety administers the state's Compassionate Use Program. Texas also maintains the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas, commonly known as CURT, for participating qualified physicians and patients.

Who Qualifies in Texas?

Patients must meet the current Texas residency and medical eligibility requirements. Conditions patients are commonly evaluated for include:

The qualified physician determines whether treatment is appropriate for your individual situation.

• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Multiple sclerosis and spasticity
• ALS and incurable neurodegenerative diseases
• Autism
• Cancer
• PTSD
• A condition that causes chronic pain (as defined by Texas law)
• Traumatic brain injury
• Crohn's disease and other inflammatory bowel disease
• Terminal illness, hospice or palliative care
• Medical conditions designated by HHSC for treatment as part of an approved research program (research-specific eligibility only)

Step 1: Complete Your Texas Patient Application

Begin by providing contact information, medical history and information regarding the condition for which you are seeking evaluation. You can start your Texas evaluation online.

Step 2: Be Evaluated by a Qualified Texas Physician

Texas requires the patient to have a prescription from an approved qualified physician to obtain low-THC cannabis through the Compassionate Use Program. The physician determines eligibility and whether prescribing low-THC cannabis is appropriate.

Approval is not guaranteed.

Step 3: The Physician Enters You Into CURT

If you qualify and the physician issues a prescription, the physician enters it into the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas. This is different from a traditional medical marijuana card process — there is no separate card application for the patient to file with the state.

Do Texas Patients Register Themselves With the State?

No. Texas DPS states that patients are not required to register themselves or pay a patient registration fee. The qualified physician enters the patient's information into CURT.

How Do You Fill a Texas Low-THC Cannabis Prescription?

After the participating physician enters the prescription into CURT, the patient or legal guardian can use an authorized dispensing organization according to Texas program requirements.

Is There a Texas Medical Marijuana Card?

Texas uses a physician prescription and the CURT system rather than the conventional medical marijuana card model used by many other states. People may search online for a "Texas medical marijuana card," but Texas does not issue a conventional medical marijuana card — your prescription in CURT is what authorizes your purchase.

Ready to See If You Qualify in Texas?

Quick Medical Cards can help patients begin the evaluation process. Start your Texas evaluation to find out whether you qualify.

Eligibility and prescribing decisions are made by the evaluating physician according to Texas program requirements. For official program details, visit the Texas Department of Public Safety Compassionate Use Program.