Texas Medical Cannabis Patient Count Steadily Increasing

Over the last 18 months, patient registration in Texas’ medical cannabis program has increased by an average of 10% month-over-month, Chief Wayne Mueller, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told KXAN. Mueller described the increase as “significant” and expects between the next 18 to 24 months, there will be 100,000 patients enrolled in the state program.

To assist with the program’s growth, officials plan to hire a consultant to help them add more licenses as there are still only three throughout the state.

“While we are in this fledgling stage with this program, I think bringing in a person or an entity that has experience with other state programs that were at the same point (at some) time will give us some vital insights so that we’re not trying to reinvent any wheels.” — Mueller to KXAN

Recently, public safety commissioners passed a working group that would help facilitate any changes to the program approved by state lawmakers. They also approved a resolution to allow the current licensees to open satellite locations throughout the state to help with patient access.

A poll published in August conducted by the University of Texas at Tyler and the Dallas Morning News found 72% of registered voters back the state’s medical cannabis reforms.

Last summer, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller (R) campaigned to support medical cannabis access in the state, saying officials needed “to open it up to everybody and quit picking winners and losers.” In July, Miller penned an op-ed calling for the end of cannabis prohibition in Texas.