This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Program rules, fees and forms change. Always confirm details with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Compassionate Use Program and talk to a qualified health care provider about your own situation.

If you live in Texas and want to join the state’s medical cannabis program, the process follows a set order: confirm you are eligible, see a CURT registered physician, who enters your prescription in the state registry, then buy only from licensed dispensing organizations. This guide walks through how to get a medical marijuana card in Texas step by step, based on the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Compassionate Use Program’s published guidance as of October 29, 2026. It focuses on the access steps only. It does not discuss whether cannabis helps any condition. An important point first: Texas does not issue a medical marijuana card. Its Compassionate Use Program works through a prescription entered by a physician in a state registry, and patients do not apply to the state themselves. For state basics on seeds and home growing rules, see our Texas marijuana seeds page. Kind Seed Co sells only to adults 21 and older.

Texas program at a glance

Topic	What the state says (verify before relying)
Agency	Texas Department of Public Safety
Registry	Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT)
Card	No card is issued
State fee	None for patients
Residency	Permanent Texas residents only
Home grow	Not allowed
Smokable products	Not included in the program
Out of state prescriptions	Not accepted

Who runs the program

The Texas Compassionate Use Program is run by the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS licenses dispensing organizations and operates the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas, called CURT. The program allows low THC cannabis, as defined in Texas Occupations Code chapter 169, to be prescribed for listed conditions. Smokable products are excluded by that definition.

Patients with a valid prescription are protected from state possession charges for low THC cannabis under the Texas Health and Safety Code. That protection is limited to products dispensed under the program.

Step by step: getting a prescription in Texas

Step 1: Confirm you are a permanent Texas resident

DPS says patients must be permanent residents of Texas. There is no age limit, but a patient under 18 needs a legal guardian to act for them.

Step 2: Find a qualified physician

Only physicians registered in CURT can prescribe low THC cannabis. DPS offers a public search of registered physicians through the registry.

Step 3: Have an appointment and evaluation

The physician evaluates whether you have a qualifying condition under state law. If you qualify, the physician enters a prescription for you in CURT. You do not register yourself or pay the state.

Step 4: Choose a licensed dispensing organization

Texas licenses a small number of dispensing organizations. Many offer pickup locations and delivery within the state.

Step 5: Fill the prescription

To fill a prescription, the dispensing organization verifies you in CURT. DPS says patients or their legal guardians provide their last name, date of birth and the last five digits of their Social Security number, along with a valid ID.

Qualifying condition categories

State law lists the conditions that can make a patient eligible. As of October 29, 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Compassionate Use Program lists these categories:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Autism
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel disease
• Conditions that cause chronic pain
• Epilepsy
• Incurable neurodegenerative diseases
• Multiple sclerosis
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Seizure disorders
• Spasticity
• Terminal illness, or conditions that require hospice or palliative care
• Traumatic brain injury

These categories reflect DPS guidance after recent changes to state law, which expanded the list. Check the DPS site for the exact wording. A condition on this list only means a patient may qualify for the program. It does not mean cannabis is a proven or appropriate treatment for that condition. Only a qualified provider can decide whether you meet the criteria.

Costs and timing

Texas does not charge patients a registration or card fee, because there is no card. Your costs are the physician visit, which is set by the clinic, and the products you buy from a licensed dispensing organization. Timing depends on how fast you can get an appointment with a registered physician. Once the prescription is in CURT, a dispensing organization can usually fill it.

What about growing at home?

Texas does not allow patients or anyone else to grow cannabis at home. All program products must come from licensed dispensing organizations. Adult use cannabis is not legal in Texas, and Texas does not accept prescriptions or cards from other states. Federal law also still treats marijuana as a controlled substance outside the narrow categories moved to Schedule III in 2026, and the federal hemp definition is scheduled to change on December 11, 2026. Our overview of legal requirements for growing weed plants in your state compares state rules.

Tips for a smooth process

• Gather proof of identity and Texas residency before your appointment
• Keep copies of your prescription details and physician contact information
• Ask your physician when the prescription needs to be renewed
• Only buy from licensed dispensing organizations, and keep products in their original labeled packaging
• Never drive after consuming, and keep products locked away from children and pets
• Do not carry medical cannabis into another state unless that state’s law clearly allows it

Frequently asked questions

Does Texas have a medical marijuana card?

No. Texas uses a prescription entered by a registered physician in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas. There is no card and no patient registration.

How much does it cost to join the Texas program?

There is no state fee for patients. You pay for the physician visit and for products.

Can I use a medical card from another state in Texas?

No. Texas does not accept prescriptions or medical cards from other states.

Can I grow cannabis at home in Texas?

No. Texas does not allow home cultivation.

Can minors join the program?

There is no age limit, but a legal guardian must act for patients under 18.

Does this guide replace advice from the state or a provider?

No. This is general information only. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Compassionate Use Program is the official source, and a qualified provider can answer questions about your health.

Sources

• Texas Department of Public Safety, Compassionate Use Program FAQ, accessed October 29, 2026
• Compassionate Use Registry of Texas public physician search, accessed October 29, 2026
• Texas Occupations Code, chapter 169, accessed October 29, 2026
• Texas Health and Safety Code, section 481.111(e), accessed October 29, 2026

The bottom line

Getting a medical marijuana card in Texas really means getting a prescription through the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT): see a CURT registered physician, who enters your prescription in the state registry, then buy only from licensed dispensing organizations. Check the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Compassionate Use Program for current rules before you start. For state seed and home grow basics, visit our Texas page or the Kind Seed Co shop. Kind Seed Co sells only to adults 21 and older. Always follow the home grow laws where you live.