The Texas Senate has finally approved the bill for limited medical marijuana. It has opened the doors for the authorized sale of cannabidiol oil to the eligible patients. The CBD oil received 26-5 votes from the upper chamber in support of the limited legalization. CBD oil is an extract derived from the plants of marijuana that do not produce the high effect associated with the other marijuana plant parts.

This particular oil is used to control the seizures caused due to intractable epilepsy. More than 15,000 Texans advocate the use of this oil. However, people suffering from HIV/AIDS, PTSD, cancer and multiple sclerosis have also supported it as the oil offers immediate pain relief.

The bill is now ready for the House, although the committee has passed the companion House bill. It indicates that the bill has the potential to be cleared by the lower chamber floor vote.

Until now, Texas has not legalized any form of marijuana, even for health reasons. So, even though the passing of the CBD oil bill in the Senate is a smaller move, it is expected to clear the Legislature eventually. Earlier the proposal for complete legalization of the marijuana was made based on religious grounds.

Legalization of the Christian Case

A representative of the Republican state, David Simpson of Longview had argued in the proposal that marijuana comes from God and hence any government should not ban it. Simpson has championed the ‘Christian case’ saying that the bill must be legalized. The bill was kept pending for weeks together before the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee prior to the move.

The surprise voting from the two Republicans and three Democrats in support of the bill helped it move ahead in the process of legalization. Although the bill has now stepped ahead, a broader bill might be required for the cancer patients like Benouis and patients with other medical conditions. The broader bill is required to allow the marijuana use for treating the symptoms of cancer and other serious diseases legally.