How to get a medical card in Texas

We take you through Leafwell’s no-stress process.

Gaining access to a medical marijuana card is one of the best things Texans struggling with significant health issues can do to improve their quality of life. Cannabis has proven benefits for patients who suffer from pain, appetite, and insomnia issues, and in states like Texas, signing up for a medical marijuana card is the only way to legally access these benefits. Luckily, companies like Leafwell make the process effortless, helping people in Texas and the rest of the union get the relief they need without getting bogged down in red tape.

Leafwell’s trademark quality and commitment to customer service have earned them a reputation as one of the most trusted providers of medical marijuana cards since their founding in 2019. They’ve helped hundreds of thousands of people make contact with trained healthcare providers to assess their cannabis needs and guide prospective patients through the process. Leafwell is a 100% telehealth service, meaning that you can get a top-quality cannabis consultation from the comfort of your own home.

Leafwell is offering Leafly readers in Texas a special discount when they sign up for their medical marijuana card. Just use code LEAFLY20 at checkout, and you’ll receive a 20% discount. That’s not all: Leafwell offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t approved. With this discount and guarantee, on top of Leafwell’s famously low prices, there’s no excuse not to click the link below and get started today. 

No big surprise, Texas does things a little differently than other states when it comes to medical marijuana. Unfortunately, Texas is uniquely restrictive—we’ll let you know exactly what the broader prohibition on cannabis means you can and can’t do with a medical card. But first, we’ll take you through each and every step of signing up for a Texas medical marijuana card with Leafwell. Let’s dive in!

Step one: Sign up for an appointment in just minutes

Leafwell makes it incredibly easy to get started on the process of signing up for a medical marijuana card. In fact, Leafwell can get prospective patients set up with a telehealth appointment with a verified healthcare provider in just a few minutes. The team at Leafwell has rigorously designed their process to be incredibly customer-friendly. They know that when you are looking for the relief medical cannabis can provide, the last thing you want to do is spend your time dealing with byzantine legal mazes or complicated middlemen. Leafwell takes care of all the bureaucracy, getting you quick access to the relief you need so you can focus on feeling better.

Important documents

All you need to do to ensure you’ll be approved is gather a handful of important documents. First, you’ll need proof of diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition (we’ll go over what those are in the Restrictions section) from a state-approved physician. Coming to your online Leafwell appointment prepared with your medical records is also preferred by Leafwell’s providers, although it is only required for minor patients. If your state-approved physician has already provided a prescription for cannabis, have that document on hand as well. However, a prescription for cannabis is not a prerequisite for booking a Leafwell appointment and can be provided by your Leafwell provider.

You’ll also need proof of Texas residency and a valid ID. Once you have these documents, you’ll be ready to attend your appointment and take the next step towards low-THC products. 

Caregivers can sign up

Leafwell also makes it easy for caregivers to sign their patients up for access to medical marijuana. In Texas, caregivers can register under their own name, cutting out annoying extra steps and complications. All caregivers need to sign up with Leafwell is a valid Texas state-issued ID or driver’s license, the patient’s last name and date of birth, and the last five digits of the patient’s SSN. For patients who depend on their caregivers, this is a huge benefit of both the Texas system and using Leafwell to navigate its particularities. 

Step two: Attend a telehealth appointment and get added to the CURT 

For customers who have become accustomed to the frustrating nature of the healthcare system today, Leafwell’s straightforward telehealth appointments will feel too good to be true. From the comfort of your own home or office, you’ll consult with a knowledgeable and friendly healthcare provider who will take the time to treat you like an individual and understand your particular medical needs.

Speak with a friendly healthcare provider

Leafwell’s network of healthcare providers includes some of the best in the business. They’re expertly trained to take you through the process swiftly and painlessly. They will review your medical documents, decide if the potential benefits of cannabis outweigh the minimal health risks, and talk to you about how to safely consume cannabis products to treat your symptoms. If everything is in order, you’ll be approved!

Get added to the CURT

After the appointment, your physician will perform the necessary bureaucratic and administrative functions to add you to the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT). This administrative system tracks all of Texas’ medical marijuana patients and their prescriptions, so any cannabis dispensing organization can access accurate records anytime, day or night. This isn’t just another prescription you’ll have to manage—the CURT is a behind-the-scenes operation designed to remove administrative burdens from medical marijuana patients. 

Thanks to the CURT, Texans who have been approved for medical marijuana won’t receive a physical card in the mail. That means that after you’ve been added to the CURT by one of Leafwell’s healthcare providers and your application is validated by the state, you can immediately access low-THC cannabis products from any licensed dispensary. Congratulations!

Restrictions 

Unfortunately, Texas is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to access to medical cannabis. When State Bill 339, The Texan Compassionate Use Act, was passed in 2015, it legalized limited access to medical cannabis but also imparted significant limitations on who can grow cannabis, who can possess cannabis, how much they can possess, and in what forms. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these restrictions before consulting with your doctor to have the most informed conversation possible.

As of 2021, only patients suffering from severe medical conditions are eligible for medical marijuana access. These conditions are: 

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 
• Severe Autism 
• Cancer
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
• Alzheimer’s or other incurable neurodegenerative diseases

Patients who are added to the CURT will have access to low-THC, CBD-rich cannabis oil. In Texas, it is only legal to consume cannabis via these low-THC oils, tinctures, or edibles. It is illegal to smoke medical cannabis in Texas, and it is also illegal to grow your own cannabis from seeds. While cannabis concentrates and hash are not technically defined as cannabis under Texas law, they are still illegal. 

The low-THC, high-CBD oils that medical patients have access to under Texas law are defined as oils with less than 1% THC and greater than 10% CBD. The Texas legislature decided this ratio to ensure that legal cannabis products will have little to no psychologically active effects. 

Patients under the age of 18 are eligible to be added to the CURT if their doctor decides that the potential benefits of cannabis outweigh the health risks. A legal guardian can pick up a minor’s prescription with a valid ID. While caretakers can register to the CURT under their own name, it is illegal for a caretaker to pick up a medical cannabis prescription from a dispensary for their patient if the prescription is under the patient’s name. 

Leafwell is an essential partner for residents of the Lone Star State looking for the incredible benefits that only medical cannabis can provide. Their customer-focused process has helped over 300,000 people achieve relief nationwide, and they aren’t slowing down.

Head to Leafwell’s website to sign up for an appointment with a kind and qualified professional, read the latest research on medical cannabis, check out Leafwell’s blog, or get help from their support team. There’s no reason to wait now that you know how to get a medical card in Texas—use code LEAFLY20 at checkout to save on your medical cannabis card today.