House bill to allow therapeutic cannabis patients to grow limited plants advances amid safety and oversight debate

House Bill 53 would permit qualifying therapeutic cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis at a private, secured location for therapeutic use, subject to registration and limits described in the bill.

Representative Wendy Thomas, sponsor of HB 53 and a registered therapeutic cannabis patient, told the House Judiciary Committee the bill would allow patients or designated caregivers to grow up to three mature (flowering) plants, three immature (nonflowering) plants and 12 seedlings (six inches or less). She described the change as a response to patient needs for affordability, accessibility and availability of specific strains: “Growing it would be a good option,” she said, noting many patients must travel long distances to the seven ATCs in the state.

Why it matters: Supporters said home cultivation would lower costs for patients who rely on cannabis for chronic conditions and expand access for people with transportation barriers. Several medical and patient witnesses testified that certain cannabinoid/strain profiles are uniquely helpful to individuals and that some patients want the option to grow the cultivars that work for them.

Supporters, safeguards…