Texas House signals expanding states medical marijuana program [Video]

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The Texas House advanced a bill Monday that would expand the conditions eligible for the state’s medical marijuana program, including chronic pain and Crohn’s disease, and allow for prescribed smokable products to be sold by prescription.

House Bill 46 by Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, would allow patients in the state’s medical marijuana program to use products like cannabis patches, lotions, and prescribed inhalers and vaping devices. The House preliminarily approved the bill 118 to 16 on Monday and will need a final round of approval before it heads to the Senate.

If it becomes law, the list of qualifying conditions would also expand to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, Crohn’s disease, and degenerative disc disease. The bill would also let licensed dispensers open more satellite locations, which supporters say is necessary to prevent the industry …