"Marijuana Oil" Bill OK'd By Texas Senate - But It's Not What You Think
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GARLAND (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - The Texas Senate approved a limited medical marijuana bill Thursday, authorizing the sale to eligible patients of Cannabidiol oil, (CBD).
The upper chamber voted 26-5 to support the limited legalization.
CBD is isolated by extraction from marijuana, and does not contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the component that causes a high. Though the oil is used to help control seizures associated with intractable epilepsy, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize CBD as being intended to treat any diseases.
Advocates say intractable epilepsy affects about 150,000 Texans.
Critics of the bill fear it could lead to an abuse of marijuana.
Tyler Republican Sen. Kevin Eltife's measure now heads to the house. A companion house bill has cleared committee, making it potentially eligible for a lower chamber floor vote.
14 states have adopted laws that allow limited access to CBD products. 23 states and the District of Columbia have adopted medical marijuana laws. Texas hasn't legalized marijuana in any form.
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