Few companies have licenses for cultivation, production and The sale of medical marijuana in Texas is expanding and changes following legislative action this year will likely increase demand for the state’s Compassionate Use Program (TCUP).

Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 46 during the regular session, which increased the number of licenses for drug-dispensing organizations to 12, expanded eligibility for the program to include chronic pain conditions and allowed dispensaries to store their products in satellites to reduce wait times for patients.

Data from Texas Department of Public Safety shows that the number of patients on the Compassionate Use Registry has increased by nearly 15,000 since the Legislature passed the bill in June. DPS is also in the process of vetting nine companies for new licenses grow and sell medical marijuana.

Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original, one of three licensed businesses, said the new law will bring Texas more in line with medical marijuana programs across the country. His company recently moved its base of operations from south Austin to a 75,000-square-foot facility in Bastrop. Everything from growing the plant, extracting the oils, manufacturing and testing the products all happens under one roof.

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