TX SB259

Establishes a medical cannabis program allowing physicians to recommend cannabis to any patient when, in their medical judgment, it represents the best available treatment for the patient's condition or symptoms

Requires the Department of Public Safety to license dispensing organizations authorized to cultivate, process, and dispense medical cannabis, with applicants demonstrating technical ability, security measures, and financial stability to operate for at least two years

Creates a secure online medical use registry tracking recommending physicians, patient names and dates of birth, and amounts of cannabis dispensed, accessible to law enforcement and dispensing organizations for verification

Mandates registration and fingerprint-based criminal history checks for all directors, managers, and employees of dispensing organizations, with registrations expiring after two years

Prohibits municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions from enacting rules that prohibit the cultivation, production, dispensing, or possession of medical cannabis authorized under the program

Protects parents from child custody actions and Department of Family and Protective Services intervention based solely on administering physician-recommended medical cannabis to their children

Requires the DPS director to adopt implementing rules by January 1, 2026, with the act taking effect immediately upon two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025