Low THC medical programs explained for patients and caregivers
Not every state with a medical cannabis law runs a full medical marijuana program. Some states allow only low THC products for registered patients, with tight rules on who qualifies, who can recommend products and where they can be bought. If you or someone you care for is looking into one of these programs, the paperwork can feel confusing. This guide explains how these limited programs generally work, using Texas and Georgia as examples, and lists questions to ask before you start. Georgia began as a low THC oil program, but Senate Bill 220 renamed it a medical cannabis program on July 1 2026 and changed several of its rules. This guide covers access and program rules only. Talk with a licensed physician about any medical decision.
What is a low THC program?
A low THC program is a limited medical cannabis program. State law sets a cap on how much THC a product may contain, usually far below what adult use or full medical markets allow. Patients must have a qualifying condition listed in law, must be registered with the state and must buy from licensed sellers. Smoking flower is usually not allowed, and growing at home is not allowed at all.
How these programs usually work
- A physician registered with the program confirms that a patient meets the legal requirements.
- The physician enters the patient, or the prescription or certification, into a state registry.
- In some states, the patient or caregiver receives a registry card.
- The patient or caregiver buys products from a licensed dispensing organization or pharmacy.
- Registration is renewed on the schedule the state sets.
Texas: the Compassionate Use Program
Who runs it
The Texas Department of Public Safety runs the Compassionate Use Program, often called TCUP. Prescriptions are recorded in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas, known as CURT.
Who qualifies
A patient must be a permanent resident of Texas and must have a condition listed in state law. House Bill 46, which took effect on September 1 2025, expanded the list. It added chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases, terminal illness and conditions for which a patient is receiving hospice or palliative care. The list also includes conditions such as epilepsy and certain other listed diagnoses. Check the DPS program page for the current list.
How to get access
There is no card in Texas. A physician registered in CURT enters the prescription, and the patient or a legal guardian picks up products from a licensed dispensing organization. Patients should bring identification. DPS has been expanding the number of licensed dispensing organizations, which should improve access in more regions.
What is not allowed
Texas does not allow home cultivation. Products must come from licensed organizations and must stay within the legal THC limit.
Georgia: the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry
Who runs it
The Georgia Department of Public Health runs the registry. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission licenses producers and dispensaries.
Senate Bill 220, which took effect on July 1 2026, renamed low THC oil as medical cannabis throughout Georgia law. A registered patient or caregiver with a valid card may now possess up to 12,000 milligrams of THC, kept in labeled pharmaceutical containers, in place of the old fluid ounce limit. Smoking is still banned, and vaping products are limited to patients 21 and older. The registry card costs $30, is valid for five years and is mailed to the patient by DPH. Most patients still need a physician to recertify their condition each year.
The card
Georgia’s card used to be called the Low THC Oil Registry Card. It is now called the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card, and older cards remain valid until they expire. Under SB 220, the card costs $30, is valid for five years and is mailed to the patient by DPH.
How to register
A physician certifies that the patient has a qualifying condition and submits the registration to DPH. Once the registration is approved, DPH mails the card to the patient. Caregivers who will pick up products must be registered separately.
Where to buy
Registered patients and caregivers can buy medical cannabis products, which state law called low THC oil before SB 220, from dispensaries licensed by the commission, and from independent pharmacies licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy to dispense these products. A cardholder may possess up to 12,000 milligrams of THC, and vaping products are limited to patients 21 and older.
What is not allowed
Georgia does not allow patients or caregivers to grow cannabis.
Texas and Georgia at a glance
| Feature | Texas | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Public Safety | Department of Public Health |
| Registry | CURT, physician entry | DPH patient registry |
| Card | No card | Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card |
| Where to buy | Licensed dispensing organizations | Licensed dispensaries and licensed independent pharmacies |
| Home grow | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Guide for caregivers
Caregivers help patients who are minors or who cannot travel. Rules differ, but caregivers commonly need to:
- Be registered with the state program
- Meet age and residency requirements
- Carry identification and, where issued, a registry card
- Keep products in original packaging and away from others
- Use products only for the registered patient
Keeping records
Keep copies of every registration confirmation, card, receipt and letter from the program. Note renewal dates on a calendar so access does not lapse. If a patient moves, changes physicians or changes caregivers, contact the program office to update the registry before the next purchase.
Travel and federal law
Low THC programs are state programs. Products bought in one state may not be legal in another, and federal law still governs airports, federal land and many workplaces. Do not carry products across state lines.
Questions to ask before you start
- Is the condition on the state’s current list?
- Is the physician registered with the program?
- What does the card or registration cost, and how long does it last?
- Where is the nearest licensed seller?
- Does the caregiver need a separate registration?
- What forms of product are allowed?
Where to learn more
For a broader look at medical programs in states with full medical markets, see our complete guide to medical marijuana. For home growing rules in states that allow it, see our guide to the legal requirements for growing weed plants in your state.
Grow legally and responsibly
Home cultivation is only legal in some states, and each state sets its own plant limits, locking rules and rules about whether plants can be visible from a public place. You must be 21 or older to buy seeds from Kind Seed Co, and you should grow only where your state and city allow it. Check your state rules in our guide to the legal requirements for growing weed plants in your state before you plant. Federal treatment of cannabis seeds is also changing, so read our December 11 2026 seed rule explainer before you order. Keep plants and harvested flower locked away from children, pets and visitors, and never drive after using cannabis. This article is general information. It is not legal advice and it is not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow cannabis in a low THC program?
Not in Texas or Georgia. Both programs require purchases from licensed sellers and do not allow home cultivation.
Do I need a card in Texas?
No. A registered physician enters the prescription in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas, and the patient picks up products with identification.
What is Georgia’s card called now?
The Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card. Older Low THC Oil Registry Cards remain valid until they expire.
Can a caregiver pick up products?
Usually yes, if the caregiver is registered with the program. Check your state’s rules.
Final thoughts
Low THC programs give registered patients a limited, legal way to get cannabis products through licensed sellers. Texas uses a physician registry with no card, while Georgia, which renamed its program medical cannabis under SB 220, mails a $30 registry card through DPH that is valid for five years. Neither allows home grow. Confirm eligibility, fees and seller locations with the state agency, and talk with a licensed physician about any medical question.
Ready to start
Browse the full range in the Kind Seed Co shop or go straight to low thc seeds. Kind Seed Co sells only to adults 21 and older. Always follow the cannabis laws where you live.
