Nine companies granted preliminary approval to grow Texas medicinal marijuana program

OG article by Dylan McKim

December 3, 2025

The Texas Department of Public Safety granted preliminary approval to nine companies—Verano Texas, LLC; Trulieve TX, Inc; Texas Patient Access, LLC; Lonestar Compassionate Care Group, LLC; Lone Star Bioscience, Inc; PC TX OPCO LLC dba PharmaCann; Texa OP, dba TexaRx; Story of Texas, LLC; and Dilatso, LLC—to potentially become dispensing organizations under the expanded Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), following House Bill 46's passage to increase access. As of September 2025, 127,206 patients were registered for conditions like PTSD and chronic illnesses, with the program set to grow to 15 organizations from three. Companies must undergo further evaluations for disciplinary actions, financial suitability, and litigation history; they cannot yet grow or sell products. Most selected firms operate outside Texas, including Trulieve, which has dispensaries in states like Florida and Georgia. A Trulieve spokesperson stated: “Trulieve is pleased to have been selected for a conditional license into the Texas Compassionate Use Program. We look forward to working with the Department of Public Safety and Department of State Health Services as we work toward final licensure. Pending regulatory approvals, we plan to serve medical patients in Texas with exceptional care and high quality products.” Nico Richardson, CEO of Original Texas, noted: “With these new licenses, the broader list of qualifying conditions and new treatment options allowed under HB 46, patients gain more choices—new formulations, consistent dosing, and better delivery methods—so they get the care they need.” However, Lauren Bridges, a TCUP patient and hemp boutique owner, criticized limited product selection and lack of local Texas companies, saying: “Adding the additional organizations, I think that’s great. I think that’s a wonderful thing. However, when the list came out, I was a little disappointed to see no local Texas companies, like a lot of these hemp businesses have been essentially doing the same thing with a different plant.” DPS plans to announce three more companies in April 2026.