One of Texas’ only three licensed medical cannabis operators, Goodblend, has announced the “Ride for Your Rights” CannaBus Tour, during which it will hold a march to advocate for expanded use of the state’s medical marijuana program and show Texans how to obtain a medical marijuana prescription.
Launched on September 21, the tour features the “CannaBus,” a 36-foot mobile dispensary with a private consultation room, a display of medical cannabis products, and an outdoor education installation.
“The ‘Ride for Your Rights’ CannaBus Tour was designed to educate and galvanize support for expanding access to Texans in need,” said Reece Fulgham, CEO of Parallel, the Austin-based parent company of Goodblend.
Texas is one of 13 states and territories in the U.S. to receive an unfavorable rating on the “Americans for Safe Access 2021” report card. The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s annual “State of the States” report examines each state’s medical marijuana program, rating it on factors such as availability, legal regime, and product testing and labeling.
“The medical cannabis program will never change unless Texans stand up and make it change,” Fulgham said. “We hope the support rallied will convince Texas policymakers that there’s strong public demand for real, lasting change.”
Currently, as a result of last year’s enactment of House Bill 1535, over 150 conditions qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program.
“Texans can get access to medical marijuana with qualifying conditions such as PTSD, muscle spasticity, neuropathy, cancer, and over 100+ more conditions,” the Goodblend Virtual Clinic states.
House Bill 1535 considerably expanded the number of Texans eligible for legal access to medicinal marijuana. It found bipartisan support and secured Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval, but it also drew criticism from lawmakers who feared it could be a stepping stone toward broader legalization efforts.
Back when the bill was being debated, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick cautioned that “various medicinal use proposals … could become a vehicle for expanding access to [marijuana].”
For his part, Gov. Abbott, despite his support for House Bill 1535, has maintained his opposition to the full legalization of marijuana, including for recreational use, as reported in The Dallas Express.
Some studies show that marijuana use, even when dispensed for medical reasons, can present health risks, especially when smoked.
In addition to distributing medicinal marijuana, Goodblend also has a network of registered physicians who can prescribe medical cannabis to eligible Texans.
The CannaBus tour will stop in Fort Worth on Saturday, October 8, and in Dallas on Monday, October 10. The event is free to attend and will include merchandise giveaways.
Registration for the event is online here.
