Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1149455
Texas Expands Medical Cannabis Program THE TEX A S LOW-THC medical cannabis program, with a proven track record of success for patients with intractable epilepsy, was just expanded significantly. The growing list of qualifying medical conditions means the Texas medical com- munity needs to prepare for increased patient awareness and interest in this treatment option. "As far as I know, there is no other state where the physician is required to issue a specific prescription and guide therapy the way that we do in Texas," says Karen Keough, MD, child neurologist and epilep- tologist at Child Neurology Consultants of Austin and Chief Medical Officer of Compassionate Cultivation, a licensed medical cannabis provider. "I feel very strongly that is a vital difference that sets us apart, and that it is a very appropriate way to run a program like this." The new law, which went into effect immediately after it was signed by the Governor on June 14, allows physicians approved by the A merica n Boa rd of Medica l Specia lties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists to establish treat- ment plans for qualifying patients and prescribe state-regulated, non-smokable medical cannabis extract products that have a ma ximum of 0.5 percent THC by weight. In addition to the program expanding beyond intractable epilepsy to include all forms of epilepsy, other qualifying medical conditions include: + Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other incurable neurodegenera- tive diseases + Autism + Multiple sclerosis (MS) + Seizure disorders + Spasticity + Terminal cancer " These conditions have had issues with the prior medica l ma nagement with FDA-approved therapies," says Edward J. Fox, MD, PhD, Director, MS BY K ATY MENA-BERKLEY SiGNED BY GOV. GREG ABBOT T iN JUNE 2019, HB 3703 ALLOWS PATiENTS WiTH EPiLEPSY AND SEiZURE DiSORDERS, MULTiPLE SCLEROSiS, AUTiSM, TERMiNAL CANCER, AND NEURODEGENER ATiVE CONDiTiONS TO PURSUE PHYSiCiAN-GUiDED AND MONiTORED TRE ATMENT WiTH LOW-THC MEDiCAL CANNABiS OiL THAT'S RiCH iN THE COMPOUND CANNABiDiOL (CBD). New Hope for More Patients 0 6❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R S T O R Y