Bill > SB733

This bill creates a comprehensive Medical Cannabis Research Program in Texas, establishing an 11-member advisory board appointed by the governor and composed of medical professionals, a pharmacist, a patient representative, and a legal expert. The program will issue medical cannabis research licenses to qualified researchers, allowing them to possess, manufacture, cultivate, and dispense medical cannabis for specific research purposes, such as studying the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis, developing medical guidelines, analyzing genetic properties, conducting genomic research, and creating quality control standards. The advisory board will review license applications, assessing research project quality, study design, researcher expertise, and project scope. License holders will be protected from criminal or civil liability when conducting approved research and can collaborate with medical schools, hospitals, and higher education institutions. The bill also modifies existing health and safety codes to accommodate the new research program, with provisions for licensing, fees, and regulatory rules to be developed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. The program is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the governor expected to appoint advisory board members by that date.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB733