AUSTIN, Texas — After serving 25 years in the Army and retiring as a major, David Bass returned from Iraq struggling with symptoms he couldn't explain. He was hyper-vigilant, had trouble sleeping, and was haunted by nightmares from his time overseas. Eventually, doctors diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Bass turned to medical cannabis, and it changed his life.
“Cannabis controlled the symptoms of paranoia and anger outbursts. I sleep perfectly for eight hours every night. The nightmares about Iraq went away,” he shared.
Bass is now an outspoken advocate for broader medical cannabis access in Texas. Alongside physicians like Dr. Matthew Brimberry, a palliative care doctor in Austin, he’s backing House Bill 46, a piece of legislation that could significantly expand access to medical cannabis across the state.
Dr. Brimberry has seen firsthand how cannabis can improve patients’ quality of life. “They’re able to have a better life without all that sedating medication,” he said, calling the effects “a series of small miracles.”
House Bill 46, scheduled for a vote in the Texas House on Monday, proposes several key changes to the state's current medical cannabis program. Notably, it would:
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Expand the list of qualifying medical conditions to include chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, Crohn's disease, and degenerative disc disease.
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Allow the use of cannabis in more forms, including patches, lotions, prescribed inhalers, and vaporizers.
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Permit licensed dispensing organizations to open more satellite locations, easing access for patients in rural or underserved areas.
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Empower the Texas Department of Public Safety to issue additional dispensing licenses, potentially increasing the number of providers statewide.
For patients in remote parts of Texas—like the Panhandle or West Texas—these changes could be transformative. “We have patients that have a hard time getting their medicine,” Dr. Brimberry explained. The expanded infrastructure could save patients hours of travel and improve treatment consistency.
Supporters say the bill not only increases access but also reinforces the view that cannabis is a legitimate medical treatment.
“Cannabis is medicine, so let’s treat it as medicine,” Bass said. “For me and many other veterans, cannabis has been life-changing.”
If passed, House Bill 46 would take effect on September 1, marking a critical step forward in Texas’ evolving medical cannabis landscape. For veterans like Bass and countless others struggling with chronic conditions, the bill offers real hope for healing and a better quality of life.
