Updated on June 1st, 2025

Texas Cannabis Laws: A Comprehensive Legal Reference Guide

Adult-Use (Recreational) Cannabis in Texas

Legal Status: Recreational possession and use of cannabis (marijuana with >0.3% THC) remains illegal in Texas under state lawtexastribune.org. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance in Texas’s Controlled Substances Act, and no state law permits adult non-medical use. Hemp (cannabis with ≤0.3% THC) was legalized in 2019, but any cannabis above that THC threshold is defined as illegal “marihuana”texastribune.orgtexastribune.org. Unlike many states, Texas has not decriminalized or legalized recreational marijuana, and criminal penalties apply to possession, sale, and cultivation.

Criminal Penalties for Possession: Texas imposes penalties by weight of cannabis possessedstatutes.capitol.texas.gov. Possession of a usable quantity of marijuana is a crime with severity ranging from a misdemeanor to a major felony:

  • Up to 2 ounces: Class B misdemeanor (punishable by up to 180 days jail and $2,000 fine)norml.org.

  • More than 2 oz up to 4 oz: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail and $4,000 fine)norml.org.

  • More than 4 oz up to 5 lbs: State jail felony (180 days–2 years state jail and $10,000 fine)norml.org.

  • More than 5 lbs up to 50 lbs: Third-degree felony (2–10 years prison, $10,000 fine)norml.org.

  • More than 50 lbs up to 2,000 lbs: Second-degree felony (2–20 years prison, $10,000 fine)norml.org.

  • Over 2,000 lbs: First-degree felony (5–99 years or life in prison, and up to $50,000 fine)norml.org.

Note: Texas law treats THC concentrates/extracts (e.g. oils, edibles, vape cartridges) even more harshly. Possession of any amount of THC concentrate (over 0.3% THC) is a felony offense (Penalty Group 2), with less than 1 gram already a state jail felonynorml.org. In other words, cannabis edibles or vape oils not obtained through the state’s medical program can result in felony charges even at small quantities.

Criminal Penalties for Sale/Distribution: It is also illegal to deliver or sell any amount of marijuana in Texasstatutes.capitol.texas.gov. Delivering ≤¼ ounce for no payment is a Class B misdemeanor, and ≤¼ ounce for payment is Class Astatutes.capitol.texas.gov. Higher amounts quickly escalate to felonies – for example, selling 5 pounds or less (more than ¼ oz) is a state jail felony, and selling 50 lbs or more is a first or second-degree felony (with possible life imprisonment for extremely large quantities)statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Cultivating marijuana is penalized under these same delivery/possession laws (there is no separate home-cultivation allowance or licensing outside the medical program).

Enforcement and Local Policy: Despite strict state laws, enforcement has varied in recent years. After Texas legalized hemp in 2019 (distinguishing legal hemp from illegal marijuana), many prosecutors dropped or reduced low-level marijuana cases due to difficulties proving THC contentkut.orgkut.org. Several Texas cities (including Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, and Denton) passed local ordinances in 2022 eliminating arrests or citations for possession of small amounts (usually ≤4 oz) of marijuanatexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. However, state officials have pushed back hard on these local measures. In early 2024, the Texas Attorney General sued those cities, arguing such ordinances conflict with state law and cannot override state marijuana prohibitionstexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. In April 2025, a state appellate court struck down Austin’s voter-approved decriminalization ordinance, allowing police to resume enforcing state possession laws there pending further trial court actionkut.orgkut.org. In sum, no part of Texas has truly “legalized” adult marijuana use – any apparent local decriminalization is limited, subject to reversal, and does not change state criminal laws.

Related Offenses: Possession of cannabis paraphernalia (pipes, bongs, etc.) is a Class C misdemeanor (up to $500 fine) under Texas lawnorml.org. Driving under the influence of cannabis can be prosecuted under Texas DWI laws (no THC-specific limit; any impairment can qualify). Additionally, those caught driving with marijuana may face separate possession charges. There is no personal cultivation allowed for recreational use – growing cannabis plants can be charged as manufacture or possession of the total plant weight. Overall, adult Texans not in the medical program have no legal protections for cannabis use or possession, aside from hemp products as discussed below.

Hemp and Low-THC Products: Under House Bill 1325 (2019), Texas adopted the federal definition of hemp, making it legal to produce, sell, and possess cannabis derivatives with ≤0.3% Δ-9 THCtexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. This has allowed a booming market in CBD products and so-called “hemp-derived” THC edibles and vapes. Notably, Delta-8 THC (a psychoactive cannabinoid from hemp) has been sold openly in Texas. State health authorities attempted to ban Delta-8 via regulation in 2021, but a court injunction blocked enforcement, keeping Delta-8 products on the market pending final litigationtexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. As of 2025, Delta-8 THC remains ostensibly legal in Texas due to that ongoing lawsuit, though its status is precarious. (The Texas Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether health regulators can outlaw Delta-8.) Consumers should be cautious: only hemp products under the 0.3% THC limit are unequivocally lawfultexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. Any “THC-infused” gummies or vapes with higher potency are unlawful cannabis by definition, even if marketed as hemp-derived.

Medical Cannabis in Texas (Compassionate Use Program)

Overview: Texas has a limited medical cannabis program called the Texas Compassionate Use Program (CUP), established by the Compassionate Use Act of 2015 and expanded in 2019 and 2021texasnorml.orgtexasnorml.org. This program allows patients with specific serious conditions to access “low-THC cannabis” medicine. Low-THC cannabis is defined in Texas law as cannabis plant material or oil containing not more than 1% THC by weighttexas.public.lawtexas.public.law. (Originally the cap was 0.5% THC, but it was raised to 1.0% in 2021texasnorml.orgtexasnorml.org.) Importantly, medical cannabis in Texas cannot be smoked – it may only be consumed via ingestion (e.g. oils, tinctures, edibles) or other non-smokable formstexas.public.lawtexas.public.law. The law defines “medical use” as the ingestion by a means other than smoking of the prescribed low-THC cannabistexas.public.law.

Qualifying Medical Conditions: As of 2025, Texas law limits medical cannabis to patients diagnosed with one of a specific list of conditions. Under Texas Occupations Code §169.003, eligible conditions include:

Patients must also be permanent Texas residents and be under the care of a physician who is registered in the Compassionate Use Programtexas.gov. There is no minimum age – minors can qualify with a parent or guardian’s involvementtexas.gov. In practice, a patient does not receive a physical “medical marijuana card”; instead, approved doctors input prescriptions into an online Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT), which dispensing organizations check to dispense the medicinetexas.govtexascannabis.org.

Patient Access and Limits: A qualifying patient receives a “prescription” for low-THC cannabis from a CUP-registered physician, who must certify that the benefits outweigh the riskstexas.gov. Unlike other states, Texas uses the term prescription (not just recommendation) for medical cannabis, although these prescriptions are only valid within the state program. The prescription will specify the allowable dosage. Texas law does not set a specific quantity limit per patient; rather, the amount is whatever the physician prescribes and enters into the registry. However, all prescribed cannabis must be in low-THC (<1% THC) form and for ingestible use only (for example, oils, capsules, edibles, or sprays). Smoking cannabis flower is prohibited, and even vaporizing is generally not permitted under current rulestexas.public.lawtexascannabis.org. (Legislative proposals to allow inhaled forms have been considered but not enactedtexastribune.org.)

Patients may obtain their medicine from one of the state’s licensed dispensing organizations (there is no retail pharmacy distribution). At the point of sale, the dispensary must verify the patient’s entry in the state registry and record the details of the dispensation (date, time, quantity) in the registrytexascannabis.orgtexascannabis.org. The law does not allow home cultivation for patients – all medical cannabis must be purchased from a licensed dispensary.

Legal Protections for Patients: A registered patient (or their legal guardian) who possesses low-THC cannabis as prescribed is protected from prosecution under state law. The Texas Controlled Substances Act explicitly provides a defense to prosecution for marijuana possession or paraphernalia if the person is a patient for whom low-THC cannabis was prescribed under the Compassionate Use Program and they possess it from a licensed dispensarystatutes.capitol.texas.govstatutes.capitol.texas.gov. Similarly, employees of licensed dispensaries are protected when handling low-THC cannabis as part of their jobstatutes.capitol.texas.govstatutes.capitol.texas.gov. It is important for patients to carry identification and be in the registry, as unregistered individuals have no immunity. Outside of the state program, possession of cannabis (even for medical needs) is illegal. Notably, Texas law does not require employers, schools, or law enforcement to accommodate medical cannabis use. Patients could still face consequences (like DWI charges if driving impaired, or employment drug testing issues) even though the state permits their use of low-THC medicine.

Program Scope: Texas’s medical program remains one of the most restrictive in the U.S. – it serves a limited range of conditions and only allows cannabis with very low THC. Initially, in 2018 there were only a few hundred patients (when only intractable epilepsy was covered). After expansions in 2019 and 2021 to additional conditions (like autism, cancer, PTSD), patient enrollment increased substantially. By late 2023, several thousand Texans were in the program (exact numbers vary). Still, the per-patient THC limits and the ban on full-strength cannabis mean many patients seek alternatives or go without. Policymakers continue to debate expanding the program’s scope.

Cannabis-Related Business Regulations in Texas

Licensing of Medical Cannabis Businesses

All legal cannabis businesses in Texas operate under the Compassionate Use Program and must be licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The CUP law authorizes a limited number of Dispensing Organizations – vertically integrated companies that cultivate, process, and dispense low-THC cannabis for medical usefoleyhoag.comfoleyhoag.com. As of 2023, only three such licenses had been issued statewidefoleyhoag.com, meaning just three companies can grow and sell medical cannabis in Texas. However, DPS has statutory authority to award more licenses as needed to ensure reasonable statewide accessfoleyhoag.com. In late 2022 DPS announced plans to open a new application round, and in 2023 it accepted applications for additional licensesfoleyhoag.com. (There is no fixed cap in law on the number of dispensaries; DPS can issue however many licenses it deems “necessary to ensure reasonable statewide access” for patientsfoleyhoag.com.) New licenses may be awarded in 2024–2025 given the anticipated patient growth.

License Qualifications: To obtain a Dispensing Organization license, an applicant must meet strict requirements set by statute and DPS rules. These include demonstrating: adequate technical and technological ability to cultivate and produce consistent low-THC cannabis; accountability measures to prevent diversion of plants or products; security of facilities and resources; and the ability to maintain patient access statewide (e.g. a feasible location and distribution plan)texascannabis.orgtexascannabis.org. Applicants undergo background checks (owners, directors, and employees must be vetted and registered with DPS)law.cornell.edulaw.cornell.edu. There are also substantial financial requirements – prior application rounds required proof of significant capital, application fees, and maintaining a surety bond. Once licensed, a Dispensing Organization is essentially a vertically-integrated operator: it must perform cultivation, processing, and dispensing of medical cannabis all at a single secured facilitydps.texas.gov. (By law, each licensee can only operate one production/dispensing site – separate retail storefronts are not authorized as they are in some statesdps.texas.gov.) This one-site rule means all growing and manufacturing occurs indoors at the dispensary location, and every sale to patients happens either at that site or via delivery from that site.

Zoning and Local Restrictions: Local governments in Texas cannot ban or prohibit state-licensed medical cannabis organizations from operating. The Compassionate Use Act expressly preempts local ordinances against licensed cannabis operationsdps.texas.gov. A city or county may not “enact or enforce a rule, ordinance, order, or other regulation that prohibits the cultivation, production, dispensing, or possession of low-THC cannabis, as authorized by [state law]”dps.texas.gov. In other words, if a company is state-licensed, a municipality cannot zone it out of existence or refuse to allow it at all. That said, dispensing organizations must still comply with generally applicable building codes, fire codes, etc., and they often work with local authorities on appropriate siting. There is no state-mandated buffer (such as distance from schools) in the statute or DPS rules. DPS effectively controls location approval through the licensing process. For example, DPS requires disclosure of the proposed location in the application and ensures it can serve patients’ needsdps.texas.govtexascannabis.org. All cultivation must occur indoors in a secure enclosed building (outdoor growing is not permitted by DPS regulation)dps.texas.gov. Thus, while a city cannot forbid a dispensary, a dispensary’s operations are tightly constrained by state rules (single-site indoor operations, etc.).

Taxation Policies

Texas imposes no special cannabis taxes or excise taxes on medical cannabis at this time. Unlike adult-use states that have hefty marijuana excise taxes, Texas treats low-THC cannabis essentially like any other prescription medication for tax purposes. Medical cannabis sales may be subject to standard state and local sales tax (6.25% state tax plus up to 2% local)onlinemedicalcard.com. (Texas law exempts “prescription medicines” from sales tax, but it’s unclear if the exemption formally applies to low-THC cannabis since it is not dispensed by pharmacies. In practice, some dispensaries do charge sales tax on CBD and low-THC products.) There are currently no cultivation or wholesale taxes on cannabis in Texas – the Compassionate Use licensees pay only normal business taxes.

Business Fees: The state does levy certain fees on the licensed organizations. Initially, application and licensing fees were substantial (tens of thousands of dollars) to fund DPS’s oversight. Additionally, licensees must renew periodically (every 2 years) and pay renewal fees. If hemp businesses are considered: those who process or manufacture hemp-derivedproducts must be licensed by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and pay relevant fees, but hemp license fees are relatively modest (around $250 for a hemp handler license, etc.). There is no state cannabis revenue to speak of under the current restrictive system, so taxation policy has not been a focus of Texas law yet.

Compliance and Operating Requirements

Licensed cannabis organizations operate under detailed regulations to ensure public safety and prevent diversion. Key compliance obligations include:

  • Product Testing & THC Limits: All medical cannabis products must be tested and comply with the 1% THC by weight limittexas.public.lawfoleyhoag.com. DPS rules require extensive lab testing of each batch for potency and contaminants (e.g. pesticides, solvents, heavy metals) to protect patients. Products are typically high-CBD formulations with THC kept at or below 1%. Additionally, per DPS, products must be in forms for oral consumption (e.g. suspensions, capsules, edibles) and labeled with dosage and content. Smokable forms are disallowed, and even vaporization cartridges are not currently offered under the programtexascannabis.org.

  • Security Measures: The law and DPS rules mandate strong security at facilities. All cultivation must occur in an enclosed, locked facility – outdoor growing is forbiddendps.texas.gov. Dispensaries must implement 24/7 video surveillance, alarm systems, and other controls to prevent theft or unauthorized access. Transport security is also regulated: delivery vehicles must have secure storage and tracking, and only registered employees may transport medical cannabis for deliveriesdps.texas.gov. Deliveries to patients’ homes are allowed, but products cannot be stored overnight except at the licensed facilitydps.texas.govdps.texas.gov. Remote pickup locations (temporary delivery sites) are permitted only if the product is pre-packaged for a named patient and not kept beyond the pickup timedps.texas.govdps.texas.gov.

  • Inventory and Tracking: Dispensaries must maintain meticulous inventory records. Every gram of cannabis (and every plant) is tracked from seed to sale to prevent diversion. The Compassionate Use Registry system ties each dispensed amount to a patient’s prescriptiontexascannabis.org. After dispensing, the organization must record the date, time, quantity, and patient name in the registrytexascannabis.org. DPS inspectors can audit these records at any time. Periodic reports must also be filed with DPS (the law requires annual reporting of how much low-THC cannabis was produced and sold, number of patients served, etc., to help regulators gauge if more licenses or rule changes are needed).

  • Employee Qualifications: All owners, managers, and employees of a cannabis dispensing organization must register with DPS and pass criminal background checkslaw.cornell.edulaw.cornell.edu. Employees must be at least 18 (and often are required to be 21+ by company policy). DPS can deny or revoke registrations for any person with certain disqualifying convictions. Registered employees receive identification and must wear or carry that ID while handling cannabis.

  • Inspections and Enforcement: DPS has authority to inspect licensed facilities, with or without notice, to ensure compliancelaw.cornell.edu. Any violations of statutes or rules (e.g. security lapses, record discrepancies, product outside the THC limit) can lead to administrative penalties. DPS can suspend or revoke a license for serious or repeated violationslaw.cornell.edu. Operating without a license or diverting product to non-patients would also subject a company to criminal charges under state drug laws. Thus far, licensed organizations have maintained strict compliance due to the high stakes and scrutiny of this program.

Hemp and CBD Businesses

Outside the medical program, Texas has a large hemp industry governed by separate laws. The Texas Department of Agriculture licenses hemp growers, and DSHS regulates “consumable hemp products” (like CBD oils, foods, and Delta-8 products). Retail sales of CBD are generally allowed statewide (with no dispensary license needed) as long as THC content stays within legal limitstexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. However, smokable hemp is a special case: Texas law banned the manufacture of smokable hemp products (e.g. hemp pre-rolls or flower intended for smoking) in-state. This ban was challenged in court; ultimately, the Texas Supreme Court in 2022 upheld the ban on in-state manufacturing of smokable hemptexastribune.org. Retail sale of smokable hemp that was produced out-of-state is not explicitly prohibited by statute (a lower court had struck down a sales ban), so such products have appeared in stores. DSHS requires that hemp-derived products be lab-tested and properly labeled, and it prohibits any synthetic derivatives that don’t meet safety standards. Hemp retailers in Texas must register with DSHS if they sell edible hemp products, and they cannot market to minors. (Currently there is no age limit in state law for purchasing CBD or Delta-8, but many stores voluntarily restrict sales to 21+ due to potency concerns.)

In summary, legal cannabis commerce in Texas is bifurcated: a very limited, tightly-regulated medical cannabis industry serving qualified patients; and a broader, unlicensed retail market for low-THC hemp products. State officials have expressed concern that the latter is undermining the former by selling psychoactive products without the same oversightregulatoryoversight.comregulatoryoversight.com. This tension is driving new regulatory proposals, as discussed below.

Individual Consumer Regulations

Possession & Use for Individuals

For the general public, possession of any amount of marijuana is illegal in Texas (unless obtained through the medical program as described). The possession limits and penalties are described above in the Adult-Use section. In short, non-patients face criminal charges for any usable quantity of cannabis. Even one cannabis cigarette could lead to arrest (Class B misdemeanor), and larger amounts can mean feloniesstatutes.capitol.texas.govstatutes.capitol.texas.gov. Texas law does not provide any threshold of “personal use” below which possession is merely a citation – all amounts are criminal(though prosecutors have discretion, and some counties use cite-and-release for small amounts to avoid jailing peopletexastribune.orgtexastribune.org).

Personal Use Restrictions: Since recreational use is illegal, there are no lawful settings for public consumption of high-THC cannabis. Using marijuana in public (e.g. smoking a joint) can result in charges for possession and possibly other public nuisance offenses. If one is a registered medical patient, the law allows them to ingest their low-THC medicine as needed, but smoking in public is not applicable because the medical product cannot be smoked. There are no specific statutes about where a patient may use their medicine, but presumably workplaces and public venues may still prohibit it. Importantly, driving under the influence of cannabis is a crime: Texas DWI law covers impairment by any substance. A person can be arrested for DWI if cannabis use renders them impaired while operating a vehicle, and this applies equally to illegal marijuana and legal low-THC medicine (no carve-out for patients). Texas has no fixed blood THC limit, so DWI is based on observed impairment or circumstantial evidence. Conviction can lead to license suspension, fines, and even jail.

Age Restrictions: By default, because marijuana is illegal, there is no legal age for use – anyone, including minors, can be charged if found in possession (minors typically go through juvenile justice for such offenses). For hemp-derived products (CBD, etc.), Texas law again does not set an age limit, but federal law requires purchasers of inhalable hemp (vape) to be 21. Medical cannabis patients can be minors if they have a qualifying condition; there is no minimum age in the Compassionate Use Acttexas.gov. However, a patient under 18 generally needs a parent or guardian to obtain the medicine on their behalftexas.gov.

Firearms: (While federal law considers any cannabis user an “unlawful user” for gun ownership purposes, Texas law does not independently address this in state statute. Practically, anyone using marijuana illegally could run into issues with firearm licensing due to federal rules, but Texas issues like License to Carry may ask about federal law compliance. This is a complex area beyond state statutory law and thus omitted as per the focus on state/local law.)

Penalties for Violations

Aside from possession quantity offenses, Texas law contains other penalties related to cannabis that individuals should know:

  • Distribution/Delivery: Giving cannabis to someone else (even without selling) is treated as a crime. Providing up to 7 grams (~¼ oz) as a gift is a Class B misdemeanorstatutes.capitol.texas.govnorml.org. Any transfer of remuneration (selling any amount up to 7g) is Class A misdemeanorstatutes.capitol.texas.govnorml.org. Above that amount, delivery becomes a felony as outlined earlier (e.g. delivering 5–50 lbs is a second-degree felony)statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Texas law also makes it a serious felony to deliver any amount of marijuana to a minor (someone under 18) – this is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2–20 years in prisonnorml.org.

  • Manufacture/Cultivation: There is no separate statute for personal cultivation; growing cannabis plants is legally considered manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance. Penalties are based on the total weight of usable cannabis in the plants. For instance, cultivating a few plants that yield under 5 lbs total might be charged as a state jail felony (if over 4 oz) or a misdemeanor if very small amount. But cultivating large quantities (50+ lbs) can trigger the same high-level felonies mentioned for delivery (e.g. 50–2,000 lbs = 2nd degree felony; over 2,000 lbs = 1st degree with 5-year minimum)statutes.capitol.texas.govstatutes.capitol.texas.gov. There are enhanced penalties if cultivation is near a school or youth center under drug-free zone laws (adding potentially more jail time), though those enhancements are part of general drug statutes, not cannabis-specific.

  • Paraphernalia: Possessing drug paraphernalia (pipes, bongs, grinders, etc.) is a Class C misdemeanor (fine up to $500)norml.org. Selling paraphernalia is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail) for a first offense, and a state jail felony for subsequent offenses or if sold to a minornorml.org. Many head shops in Texas legally sell glass pipes by advertising them for “tobacco use only,” but if intent for cannabis is shown, charges are possible.

  • Medical Program Violations: If a person abuses the medical cannabis program, they can face penalties too. For example, a registered patient who diverts low-THC cannabis to a non-patient is not protected by the law’s defense and could be prosecuted for delivery. A doctor who issues a prescription to someone without a qualifying condition could face medical board discipline or criminal charges. The Compassionate Use Act created offenses for fraudulently obtaining a prescription or for unauthorized access to the CURT system (though these are relatively rare and handled administratively).

In general, Texas maintains a strict prohibitionist stance on non-medical cannabis. Penalties can be severe, especially for felony-weight amounts, and Texas has not eliminated jail time for minor possession at the state level. Users should also be aware that being on state property (like parks or universities) can carry additional consequences, and that federal law (still classifying marijuana as illegal) can apply on federal property in Texas.

Medical Patients – Protections and Limits

Qualifying medical patients enjoy a narrow exemption, as described earlier. For an individual patient, the possession limitis effectively whatever amount is prescribed in the Compassionate Use Registry – there is no statutory ounce limit for them, since the products are low-THC and doses are determined by physicians. However, patients cannot stockpile large quantities unjustified by their prescription, and they can only obtain refills as allowed by their doctor. All low-THC cannabis must be obtained through the licensed dispensaries; patients cannot lawfully buy higher-THC cannabis from other states or off the street and claim medical need as a defense (Texas does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards or any affirmative defense for full-strength cannabis).

Patients and their legal guardians are protected from prosecution for possession of their medicinestatutes.capitol.texas.gov, but they must be ready to prove their status. In practice, law enforcement who encounter a CUP patient in possession of cannabis oil may verify the prescription through DPS’s system. The THC content is crucial: if a patient possesses cannabis that exceeds 1% THC or an unapproved product (like smokable flower), they could lose legal protection. For instance, smoking a high-THC marijuana cigarette and claiming it’s for PTSD will not fly in a Texas court – only the low-THC, state-sanctioned products are allowed. Patients also should be mindful that using even low-THC cannabis in certain settings (like at work or in public) could lead to other legal issues (e.g. child endangerment charges if a minor is exposed, or DWI if driving impaired, etc.). The Compassionate Use Act does not override laws against negligently giving a child drugs or driving intoxicated.

Recent Developments and Trends (2023–2025)

Recent Legislative Sessions: Texas’s 2023 legislative session saw renewed debates on cannabis policy, though ultimately little changed in law. Notably, House Bill 1805 (2023) proposed a significant expansion of the medical program – adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition (as an alternative to opioid use) and adjusting the THC limit from 1% by weight to a per-dose limit (10 mg)texasnorml.orgfoleyhoag.com. HB 1805 passed the Texas House but stalled in the Senate and did not become law in 2023foleyhoag.comfoleyhoag.com. As a result, chronic pain and other potential conditions (e.g. insomnia or migraines) remain unapproved for medical cannabis, and the 1% THC cap still stands. Another proposal, HB 218 (2023), would have reduced penalties for low-level possession (making under 1 oz a Class C misdemeanor and removing jail time). That bill also failed amid opposition in the Senatetexastribune.orgtexasnorml.org. The Texas Senate’s leadership in 2023 remained opposed to weakening marijuana laws, effectively blocking most reforms.

However, a few incremental changes did pass in 2023: for example, HB 6 (2023) created a legal defense for people who seek emergency medical help during an overdose, which can apply to cannabis possession in certain overdose scenariosstatutes.capitol.texas.govstatutes.capitol.texas.gov (often called a “Good Samaritan” law – although overdosing on cannabis is rare, the law was a broader drug policy measure). Additionally, Texas expanded its hemp regulations slightly, enacting quality control measures for consumable hemp products sold in stores (like requiring QR-code certificates of analysis on packages). These tweaks aside, the legislature did not enact major shifts on cannabis in the 88th Session (2023).

Looking ahead, the 2025 legislative session is already gearing up to revisit cannabis issues. On one hand, bipartisan bills to legalize or decriminalize marijuana have been filed for 2025. For instance, House Bill 1208 (filed for 2025) proposes legalizing possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for adults 21+ and establishing a regulatory systemregulatoryoversight.com. Similar legalization bills were proposed in past sessions but never received a Senate hearing. Advocates are cautiously optimistic given shifting public opinion (polls in recent years show a majority of Texans favor some form of legalization or at least medical expansion). On the other hand, top state officials are pushing in the opposite direction regarding hemp products: Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced in late 2024 that he will prioritize Senate Bill 3 (2025) to crack down on **Delta-8, Delta-9 THC products, and other “intoxicating hemp” itemstexastribune.orgregulatoryoversight.com. SB 3 aims to ban all consumable products containing THC (other than the state’s own medical program), closing the loopholes that have allowed gas stations and smoke shops to sell psychoactive gummies and vapesregulatoryoversight.comregulatoryoversight.com. The bill, supported by Senator Charles Perry, would likely outlaw any hemp-derived edibles or vapors that can get users high, even if Δ-9 THC is under 0.3%. This proposed ban is a response to reports of kids and adults getting high on unregulated Delta-8 products in Texas – Patrick cites a “surge” in stores selling items with “three to four times the THC content found in marijuana” due to chemically concentrated isomersregulatoryoversight.comregulatoryoversight.com. If such a law passes, it would dramatically reshape the retail landscape, effectively limiting all THC to the official medical program and outlawing the quasi-legal hemp dispensaries. The outcome of this internal tug-of-war – reform vs. restriction – will be a defining story of Texas cannabis law in 2025.

Enforcement Trends: Enforcement data shows a continuing decline in marijuana arrests in some of Texas’s largest counties, partly due to local policies and the hemp law. After 2019, many prosecutors (e.g. in Houston, Austin, San Antonio) dismissed simple possession cases unless lab tests proved illegal THC levelstexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. By 2022, several jurisdictions formally adopted “cite-and-release” or diversion programs for misdemeanors, meaning offenders get tickets instead of jail for small amounts. Austin went further to bar any city funds from being used on testing or prosecuting low-level possessiontexastribune.org. These measures significantly cut down arrest numbers – for example, Bexar County (San Antonio) reported saving millions and avoiding thousands of arrests through cite-and-releasetexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. Nevertheless, with the state pushing back (as noted, the Attorney General’s lawsuits against city decriminalization), the legal durability of these local reforms is uncertain. In April 2025, when the appeals court voided Austin’s decrim ordinance, it signaled that state law prevails and cities cannot simply ignore marijuana offenseskut.orgkut.org. Thus, we may see some uptick in enforcement again in places that attempted to decriminalize, should those efforts be rolled back by courts or legislation.

Another notable trend is the continued legal battle over Delta-8 THC. In September 2023, the Texas Third Court of Appeals upheld an injunction preventing the state from listing Delta-8 as a Schedule I drug, thus keeping Delta-8 products legal for the time beingtexastribune.orgtexastribune.org. This was a win for hemp retailers and consumers. However, the case is likely headed to the Texas Supreme Court in 2024 for a final decisionvicentellp.comcobbjohns.com. Depending on that outcome (or on legislative action like SB 3), the status of popular gummies and vapes could change rapidly. DPS and DSHS have also been stepping up enforcement of existing hemp rules – issuing warnings and occasional raids on shops that sell products testing over 0.3% Δ-9 THC or synthetic cannabinoids. Consumers and businesses are advised to stay updated on these developments, as what’s legal today (e.g. Delta-8) might become illegal tomorrow.

Medicinal program trends: Within the medical program, DPS in late 2023 was processing new dispensary license applications – a sign that the state anticipates growth. If additional licenses are granted in 2024, patients in regions like West Texas or the Panhandle (previously far from any dispensary) may gain closer access. There is also interest in allowing more physicians to participate; currently only a few hundred doctors statewide have registered to prescribe low-THC cannabis. In 2023 Texas did implement a law (HB 1535 from 2021) that created a research program pathway, and in 2024 some clinical trials for medical cannabis in Texas (e.g. for chronic pain or PTSD) may begin under academic supervision, potentially generating data to support future expansionsfoleyhoag.comtexas.public.law.

In summary, Texas cannabis law is in flux: medical use is gradually expanding but remains tightly limited, recreational use is still prohibited with tough penalties (though enforcement is uneven), and the state is grappling with an unregulated gray market of hemp-derived THC products. All eyes are on the 2025 Legislature and pending court cases to see whether Texas moves toward greater legalization or clamps down even harder on cannabis outside the Compassionate Use Program. Until then, the laws described above remain in effect – and Texans should carefully heed them to avoid legal trouble.

Sources:

  • Texas Health & Safety Code §§ 481.120–121 (Controlled Substances Act – offenses and penalties for marijuana possession/delivery)statutes.capitol.texas.govstatutes.capitol.texas.gov

  • Texas Occupations Code Chapter 169 (Texas Compassionate Use Act – authority for low-THC cannabis prescriptions and program rules)texas.public.lawtexas.public.law

  • Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 487 (Compassionate Use Program regulations for dispensaries)dps.texas.gov

  • Texas Administrative Code Title 37, Part 1, Chapter 12 (DPS rules for Compassionate Use Program, security, and enforcement)dps.texas.govdps.texas.gov

  • Texas House Bill 1325 (2019) (legalizing hemp and defining cannabis with ≤0.3% THC as legal hemp)texastribune.org

  • Texas Senate Bill 339 (2015) and House Bill 3703 (2019) (establishing and expanding Compassionate Use Program)texas.govtexas.public.law

  • Texas DPS Compassionate Use Program – Official guidance and FAQs on licensing, security, and operationsdps.texas.govdps.texas.gov

  • Texas Department of State Health Services – Hemp Program FAQs (rules on smokable hemp, testing, etc.)texastribune.org

  • Texas Tribune, “Marijuana and hemp in Texas: What’s legal and what’s not” (July 18, 2022)texastribune.orgtexastribune.org

  • Austin KUT News, “Texas court blocks Austin law that decriminalized small amounts of marijuana” (Apr. 25, 2025)kut.orgkut.org

  • Texas Tribune, “Ken Paxton sues five Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana” (Jan. 31, 2024)texastribune.orgtexastribune.org

  • Foley Hoag LLP, Cannabis & the Law Blog – Texas update (May 25, 2023)foleyhoag.comfoleyhoag.com.