A Texas-licensed physician registered with the state can evaluate you for a low-THC cannabis prescription under the Texas Compassionate Use Program. No card and no state fee.
The Texas Compassionate Use Program is administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Choose a Texas-licensed physician registered in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT).
In person or, with many registered physicians, by telemedicine. You'll need a qualifying condition.
If benefits outweigh risks, the physician enters your low-THC prescription into CURT.
A DPS-licensed dispensing organization checks your government photo ID and fills your order.
No card and no state fee — Texas keeps your prescription in the registry instead.
Denton is home to two universities. Here's how TCUP applies to students.
TCUP is for permanent Texas residents. Students from other states may not qualify, and out-of-state medical cards aren't accepted in Texas.
Universities that receive federal funding generally prohibit cannabis on campus and in residence halls, even with a prescription.
The hemp products sold near campus aren't part of TCUP. See the comparison below before you decide.
General information only, not legal advice. Follow your university's policies.
Hemp-derived products and the Texas Compassionate Use Program are regulated separately. Here's how they differ.
| TCUP prescription | Hemp shop product | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | A registered physician, based on your qualifying condition | You choose, with no prescription |
| Where it's sold | DPS-licensed dispensing organizations only | Retail shops |
| Oversight | The Texas DPS registry and licensing program | A separate state and federal framework that has been changing |
| THC limits | Up to 10 mg per dose, 1 g per package | Set by hemp rules, not TCUP |
| Medical guidance | Your physician directs the dose and form | None required |
We don't evaluate or recommend specific hemp products. Rules for hemp-derived products continue to change.
House Bill 46, effective September 1, 2025, set today's rules.
A condition listed in Texas law, plus a physician's determination that benefits outweigh risks. Highlighted conditions were added in 2025.
See the DPS program pages for the official list.
The nearest verified satellite for same-day pickup, about 30 miles away. Licensed dispensing organizations also deliver across much of Denton County. Check current hours before you go.
See the DPS dispensing organizations page for all licensees.
The 1896 Courthouse-on-the-Square surrounded by record stores, cafés, and live-music venues — the heart of “Little d.”
“I'd been buying random hemp gummies for years of back pain. Seeing a physician and getting a real dose plan was a totally different experience.”
— Jess R., Denton“I'm a grad student from Houston, so I qualified as a Texas resident. The note about campus rules was helpful.”
— Marcus T., DentonNo. Your physician enters your prescription in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.
TCUP is for permanent Texas residents, so students from other states may not qualify. Out-of-state medical cards aren't accepted.
Universities that receive federal funding generally prohibit cannabis on campus, even with a prescription. Check your school's policy.
No. Hemp-derived products are regulated separately and aren't prescribed or dispensed through TCUP.
No. Texas doesn't require patients to register or pay the state. Physician and product costs are separate.
On the Texas Department of Public Safety's Compassionate Use Program pages.
Denton is home to the University of North Texas, with its renowned College of Music and jazz program, and Texas Woman's University. The historic Square, ringed by independent shops and venues around the 1896 courthouse, anchors a lively music scene and the annual Denton Arts & Jazz Festival. Denton residents follow the same statewide rules as every Texan in the Compassionate Use Program.
TCUP operates under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 169 and Health and Safety Code Chapter 487. The Texas Department of Public Safety runs the registry and licenses dispensing organizations, and House Bill 46 expanded the program in 2025.
Texas has no adult-use market, smoking remains prohibited, and cannabis remains illegal under federal law. See the DPS program pages for current rules.
Appointments with Texas-licensed physicians registered in CURT.