Qualifying Conditions for Medical Cannabis in Texas

The Texas Department of Public Safety publishes the controlling patient-facing eligibility list. A diagnosis on that list makes a person potentially eligible, not automatically approved. The registered physician makes the individual decision.

A clinician reviewing a medical chart during a consultation — Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash. Context photograph. It does not depict a named patient, business, enforcement action, or reviewed product.

ResidencyThe patient must be a permanent Texas resident.

Clinical decisionA registered physician must find the potential benefit reasonable in light of the risk.

No physical cardThe physician enters the prescription in CURT. Patients do not apply for a state card.

Approved Condition Categories

As of July 30, 2026, Texas DPS lists these categories for the Compassionate Use Program:¹

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS
Autism
Cancer
Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel disease
A condition that causes chronic pain
Epilepsy
An incurable neurodegenerative disease
Multiple sclerosis
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD
A seizure disorder
Spasticity
A terminal illness or a condition receiving hospice or palliative care
Traumatic brain injury
A condition approved under a qualifying research program

Texas uses a registry prescription, not a physical medical marijuana card.

Patients do not register themselves with DPS or pay a state registration fee. If approved, the participating physician enters the prescription in CURT, where a licensed dispensing organization can verify it.²

Condition Guides Built Around the Diagnosis

Huntington’s diseaseSee why Huntington’s qualifies, what the small mixed cannabinoid trials found, and why caregiver safety planning matters. Parkinson’s diseaseSee why Parkinson’s qualifies, what the latest randomized evidence found, and which safety questions belong in a CURT evaluation. Alzheimer’s disease and named dementiasConfirm which dementia diagnoses Texas names, what agitation research can support, and how caregivers can prepare for CURT. Incurable neurodegenerative diseasesReview the diagnoses named in the state rule, condition-specific evidence limits, safety questions, and the CURT process. Terminal illness, hospice, and palliative careReview the Texas eligibility pathway, symptom-focused evidence, safety questions, and coordination with the care team. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisALS qualifies in Texas. Review the limited spasticity evidence, breathing and swallowing considerations, and the CURT process. AutismAutism qualifies in Texas. Review the limited evidence, age and guardian rules, safety questions, and the CURT process. Epilepsy and seizure disordersBoth qualify in Texas. Review where purified CBD evidence applies, product differences, medication interactions, and the CURT process. Chronic painWhat Texas law means by chronic pain, who may qualify for low-THC cannabis, what the evidence shows, and how a CURT prescription works.Post-traumatic stress disorderPTSD qualifies for medical cannabis in Texas. Learn what the evidence does and does not show, the risks to discuss, and how CURT access works.Inflammatory bowel diseaseCrohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel disease qualify in Texas. Learn the difference between symptom relief and disease control.CancerCancer qualifies for medical cannabis in Texas. Understand supportive symptom care, what cannabis does not treat, and questions for an oncology team.Traumatic brain injuryTraumatic brain injury qualifies in Texas, but clinical evidence for cannabis after TBI is sparse. Learn the access rules and safety questions.Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis and spasticity qualify in Texas. Review formulation-specific evidence, realistic symptom goals, risks, and CURT access.

Three Eligibility Details That Are Easy to Misstate

Chronic Pain Has a Legal Definition

HB 46 defines chronic pain using cause, severity, duration beyond 90 days, prior non-chronic pain treatment, and whether THC is a viable treatment. The final enrolled law does not say that a patient must use opioids first.³

Peripheral Neuropathy Is Not One Blanket Listing

Some specifically named hereditary or pediatric-onset peripheral neuropathies appear within the state’s rule for incurable neurodegenerative diseases. Other neuropathic pain may be evaluated through the chronic-pain category. A generic online list should not promise that every peripheral neuropathy diagnosis qualifies automatically.⁴

Cerebral Palsy and Broad “Other Dementia” Wording Need Care

Cerebral palsy is not a stand-alone condition named in the DPS patient list, though a patient may qualify through diagnosed spasticity or another listed condition. Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and certain other neurodegenerative diagnoses appear in the administrative rule, but “any dementia” is too broad.⁴

What the Physician Must Decide

The physician confirms the diagnosis and determines whether the risk of low-THC cannabis is reasonable in light of the potential benefit. That requires more than checking a condition box. Medications, pregnancy, cardiovascular history, psychosis risk, substance-use history, age, driving, work, falls, and the treatment goal can all matter.

A Noncommercial Way to Find a Physician

Texas DPS provides a public search for participating CURT physicians. It is the best starting point for verifying whether a clinician is registered. CannaWize’s Texas prescription guide explains the steps after a patient chooses a physician.

Medical and legal disclaimer: This article provides educational information, not diagnosis, treatment, or legal advice. Program rules and evidence can change. Confirm eligibility with a registered physician and current Texas DPS sources.

Clear answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions qualify for medical cannabis in Texas?

Texas lists ALS, autism, cancer, Crohn’s disease or other IBD, a condition causing chronic pain, epilepsy, an incurable neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, a seizure disorder, spasticity, terminal illness or hospice or palliative care, traumatic brain injury, and approved research-program conditions.

Does Texas issue a physical medical marijuana card?

No. A registered physician enters an approved prescription in CURT. Patients do not apply for or receive a physical state card.

Does a qualifying diagnosis guarantee approval?

No. The physician must determine that the potential benefit is reasonable in light of the risk for the individual patient.

Must a chronic pain patient try opioids first?

No. The final enrolled version of HB 46 does not include a prior-opioid requirement.