Texas does not offer a physical card for medical marijuana patients; however, once you’ve been approved by a physician licensed by the state of Texas, your information will be entered in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) system within 24 hours. After your information has been entered, you’ll be able to purchase products at a licensed Texas dispensary. 

Any employee or job applicant who tests positive for marijuana during a drug test can get fired or have their job offer rescinded, even with a medical marijuana card or prescription.

There are no state fees for patients, and you do not need to submit paperwork or wait for a card to arrive. Just bring your ID to a licensed dispensary and they’ll verify your information directly through the CURT database.

After you receive your medical cannabis license, you may purchase cannabis from any Texas dispensary. All dispensaries provide statewide delivery services. Designated pickup locations are also available with select dispensaries.

Dispensaries offer approved consumption methods, including tinctures, gummies, beverages, lozenges, and topical creams. Smoking marijuana is illegal in Texas, so no flower is available. However, recent changes in Texas law now allow for vape products for medical marijuana patients. 

Having a valid CUP prescription and obtaining cannabis from a licensed dispensary provides an exception from state-level possession laws. However, possession without a prescription is still a criminal offense. Make sure you’re traveling within the state where you purchased the product, and that you leave the product in its original container. Also, have your prescription available to show law enforcement. Never consume any type of marijuana while driving, as it can sometimes impair response time and is considered a federal violation. 

Traveling within the state of Texas by car is legal, but marijuana of any kind is still federally illegal, so you can’t safely cross state lines. Also, because of federal regulations, flying in an airplane can be problematic.

In addition, driving under the influence of any substance that affects your mental or physical faculties is a crime in any state, categorized as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), so consuming medical marijuana while driving is also illegal.

There is an overlap between Federal and State laws concerning owning a gun and participating in the medical marijuana program in Texas. Federally, since medical marijuana is still illegal, anyone who uses federally-prohibited drugs cannot legally own a firearm. However, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has stated that participating in the Compassionate Use Program (CUP) does not, by itself, disqualify someone from getting or keeping a Texas License to Carry (LTC). However, this state-level position does not override the federal prohibition.