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Sen. José Menéndez co-authored the state's first comprehensive medical marijuana program, but the legislation didn't pass.

Next session, our bill will look much different because it is going to build upon the law that already passed. By doing so, rather than starting from scratch, we can increase the amount of THC allowed in the medicinal cannabis and increase the amount of diseases the state authorizes that can be treated under the law.

With Texas' next legislative session being less than a year away, Progress Texas sat down and interviewed Sen. José Menéndez, who, along with Rep. Marisa Márquez, authored the first attempt at comprehensive medical marijuana legislation in the Lone Star State.Their efforts were not successful, but the state did pass a CBD-oil bill for people with intractable epilepsy, which is a small step forward, according to medical marijuana reform advocates, but not effective because of wording that requires doctors to prescribe the oil (they have to recommend, prescribing is illegal) and because the CBD oil barely contains THC, which, according to reform advocates, is the component needed to treat intractable seizures.The interview with Menéndez reveals that he plans to use that CBD-oil bill as a basis for further expanding a comprehensive medical marijuana program in Texas.Menéndez goes on to tell Progress Texas that he wants veterans with PTSD, cancer patients, people with auto-immune disorders like MS or rheumatoid arthritis, and people with other chronic debilitating conditions to also benefit from access to medical marijuana.Read the full interview over at Progress Texas