Short answer: Texas does not issue a medical marijuana card, so there is no card to get. Access runs through the Compassionate Use Program (CUP), where a physician registered with the program records a prescription in the state registry and the patient picks it up at a licensed dispensary, with no state registration and no state fee.
Since Texas works differently from states with a card, our full guide to how medical cannabis cards compare across states shows the routes, fees and renewal steps elsewhere.
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Does Texas issue a medical marijuana card?
No. The Texas State Law Library medical marijuana FAQ says that unlike some states, Texas does not issue physical cards for medical marijuana, and patients in CUP do not receive one. The library also says Texas does not require patients in CUP to register elsewhere with the state or pay a fee to participate. The program is run by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the DPS Compassionate Use Program FAQ confirms that statute does not require patients to register or pay a fee.
Who qualifies for the Texas Compassionate Use Program?
DPS’s current FAQ says low-THC cannabis may be prescribed if three things are true:
- The patient is a permanent resident of Texas.
- The patient is diagnosed with one of the conditions DPS lists (below).
- The qualified physician determines the risk of the medical use of low-THC cannabis is reasonable in light of the potential benefit.
DPS lists these conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 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, a seizure disorder, spasticity, a terminal illness or a condition for which a patient is receiving hospice or palliative care, or traumatic brain injury.
The State Law Library FAQ, last updated June 12, 2025, lists a shorter set of conditions and does not include chronic pain, Crohn’s, terminal illness or traumatic brain injury. Use the DPS list as the current one, and confirm your diagnosis with the physician.
Age has no statutory limit. DPS says patients under 18 may require a legal guardian. The MedlinePlus medical marijuana overview, a general U.S. health overview, says providers are not allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to people younger than 18. Because Texas’s own rules set no age limit, raise your child’s case directly with the physician.
A qualifying condition gives you legal access to the program. It is not proof that cannabis works for that condition. MedlinePlus says some small studies show that marijuana might relieve symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis, Crohn disease, inflammatory bowel disease and epilepsy.
Who is not eligible?
You are not eligible if you are not a permanent Texas resident. DPS says patients must be permanent Texas residents, which also rules out bringing a child in from out of state. You are also not eligible if your diagnosis is not on the DPS list, or if the physician does not find the benefit outweighs the risk. A prescription from another state cannot be filled in Texas, according to DPS.
MedlinePlus lists people with heart disease, pregnant women and people with a history of psychosis among those who should not use medical marijuana. Tell the physician about these before the visit.
How do I apply for a Texas medical marijuana prescription, step by step?
- Confirm residency and diagnosis. You need to be a permanent Texas resident with a qualifying condition, as listed in the DPS patient FAQ.
- Find a registered physician. Use the search tool on the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) to find a participating physician. DPS says results show only physicians who have given DPS permission to publish their information.
- See the physician. The physician decides whether the risk is reasonable and enters the prescription and your information in CURT. DPS says a physician may enter it electronically, and the State Law Library says all Texas-licensed dispensaries must use CURT to fill it.
- Pick up at a licensed dispensary. Bring identification and your name, date of birth and the last five digits of your Social Security number. DPS says patients under 18 may require a legal guardian, and physicians must document guardians’ names and last 5 of SSN in CURT.
If the dispensary cannot find your prescription, DPS says to ensure the dispensary entered the information correctly, and if it did, to contact your doctor so the prescription information is entered.
The State Law Library says the CURT database is designed to prevent duplicate prescriptions for a single patient.
Can someone other than a legal guardian pick up for me?
DPS names patients and legal guardians as the people who can pick up. Ask DPS whether an adult caregiver outside that group can collect your order before you rely on that.
What does a Texas medical marijuana prescription cost?
The state charges nothing to register. The only figures to keep separate are these.
| Cost item | What it covers | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| State registration or card fee | None. Statute does not require patients to register or pay a fee. | Texas law (DPS) |
| Physician visit | The fee for your appointment with a registered physician. | Each clinician sets its own visit price |
| Renewal | Timing and any fee for renewing a prescription. | Confirm with DPS before you start |
| Product at the dispensary | The cannabis product you buy at pickup. | The licensed dispensary |
There is no single all-in figure. Add your clinician’s visit fee to the price of the product you buy at the dispensary, and ask each one for its price before you book or buy.
Are dispensaries allowed in Texas, and which ones are licensed?
Yes. Patients must purchase low-THC cannabis from a licensed dispensing organization, and DPS says patients cannot grow their own. The DPS FAQ says that as of December 15, 2017, the department had issued three dispensing organization licenses:
| Dispensing organization (as named by DPS) | Licensed on |
|---|---|
| Fluent (formerly Cansortium Texas) | September 1, 2017 |
| Compassionate Cultivation | October 31, 2017 |
| Surterra Texas | December 15, 2017 |
Because that list is dated, check the Licensed Dispensaries section of the DPS Compassionate Use Program page for the current list.
What is low-THC cannabis?
The State Law Library says low-THC cannabis contains “less than one percent by weight of tetrahydrocannabinols” under Section 169.001(3) of the Texas Occupations Code. It can refer to the Cannabis sativa L. plant or its derivatives, such as oil or resin. Under Section 169.001(4), it can be used for medical purposes in any way except smoking.
What can a patient legally possess, and what is not allowed?
DPS says Texas Health and Safety Code §487.107 authorizes only possession of low-THC cannabis obtained through a prescription from a CUP-registered physician, dispensed to a person listed as a patient in CURT. Nothing else is authorized. Smoking is excluded from the definition of medical use under Texas Occupations Code §169.001, and home growing is not allowed.
A valid CUP prescription gives patients an exception under Section 481.111 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, according to the State Law Library. Possession of marijuana without a CUP prescription, even for medical reasons, remains a criminal offense under Section 481.121, which uses the term “marihuana.” Law enforcement can check the registry and see the amount and type prescribed and whether it was filled.
Participation in CUP has one other consequence to know about. DPS says participation in CUP does not, in itself, disqualify you from obtaining or keeping a Texas License to Carry a handgun. Your underlying condition may, in some circumstances, lead DPS to refer the matter to the Medical Advisory Board.
Is there a free or cheap medical marijuana card online?
Texas does not issue a medical marijuana card, free or paid. The State Law Library warns to “be wary of online services that claim to help you get a Texas medical marijuana card for a fee.” Any service selling a “state card” is selling something the state does not issue.
The physician who writes the prescription must be CUP-registered. Before you pay anyone, search for the physician in the CURT physician search on DPS’s site.
Can I get a hemp or adult-use product instead?
Hemp THC products run under a different set of rules, covered in our Texas hemp THC rules guide. Adult-use marijuana is not legal in Texas now; for the state’s timeline, read when marijuana could be legal in Texas.
Before you start
- Confirm your residency and diagnosis with the physician before the visit.
- Ask each clinic for its visit fee, and ask DPS whether a first visit can be done by video.
- Ask DPS about renewal timing and whether a caregiver outside the guardian rules can pick up for you.
- If your real concern is a drug test for work or a CDL, ask your employer or the licensing agency what applies to you.
By HealthDataConsortium.org Research Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
