Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Informed Texas Study: Findings and Recommended Policy Changes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March, 22, 2021
How Texans Stop Pain with a Plant: Findings from a Survey of Medical Cannabis Users
Austin, TX – Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Foundation for an Informed Texas have worked together on a survey of Texas patients to better understand patient needs, why they use cannabis, the conditions which cannabis helps, the effects of cannabis on these conditions, and to provide accurate data. The survey was conducted online between August 11, 2020, and October 6, 2020, and recruited participants through medical cannabis patient networks, including Foundation for an Informed Texas. Review the one pager, the full report and visit the Baker Institute site.
Key Findings:
- 84% of respondents have considered leaving Texas for a state with a more inclusive medical cannabis program.
- 61% report having replaced prescription opioids and benzodiazepines with medical cannabis.
- 39% report that medical cannabis has improved quality of life.
- Anxiety, depression, and back pain are the most frequently reported conditions for medical cannabis use.
Policy Recommendations
- Expand the Compassionate Use Program’s qualifying conditions and move to a system in which program eligibility is based on both symptoms and diagnosis.
- Remove the cap on THC content. Allow doctors and patients to determine the optimal strength and dosage for each individual’s medical needs.
- Revise the state’s current regulatory scheme so that program oversight rests with qualified medical professionals who can adjust program guidelines in response to evolving research and other relevant considerations.
- Provide legal protections against discrimination and denial of benefits in areas including but not limited to employment, health care, housing, education, and parental rights for people who use medical cannabis.
- Make possession of small amounts of cannabis flower and concentrates for personal use a fine-only offense to avoid criminalizing patients.
This study further supports the findings and recommendations offered by Vicente Sederberg LLP in a white paper they released in December of 2020 which found there are likely more than one million Texas residents with debilitating medical conditions who could benefit from medical cannabis but are still excluded in the current program.
“This study offers important insight into the needs of Texas’ medical cannabis patients. While the Texas Compassionate Use Program (T.CUP) is helping some, it is not yet meeting the needs of Texas patients by not including important conditions and symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder, pain, ulcerative colitis, and others. We also see that many patients are replacing prescription opioids and benzodiazepines with medical cannabis, a safer option with no known fatal overdoses. Texas patients deserve the medical freedom to try any therapeutic treatments which they and their doctor think will improve or help with their medical condition. The Legislature is currently in session and has over a dozen bills which would improve T.CUP in various ways. It is our hope that the legislature will use this information to make a patient-informed decision.”
Jax Finkel, Executive Director of Foundation for an Informed Texas.
###
Foundation for an Informed Texas (FIT) is a 501c3, tax-deductible, educational nonprofit founded to provide Texans with cannabis knowledge. Our mission is to provide timely, expert information to citizens, legislators, regulators, medical professionals, and law enforcement on the most pressing topics in the cannabis space.