TEXAS — Medical marijuana companies in Texas are widening their footprint as its expansion bill takes effect. State lawmakers passed House Bill 46 earlier this summer during the regular session.
What You Need To Know
The bill increases the number of eligible conditions for patients to be prescribed marijuana, and it allows for new consumable technology such as inhalable devices
Another provision from the bill that companies are jumping on is it allows for the storage of low-dose THC products overnight at companies’ satellite locations
One medical marijuana business employee says one of the most challenging parts of undergoing the new satellite storage process was ensuring all details were followed and communicating with the Texas Department of Public Safety
The bill increases the number of eligible conditions for patients to be prescribed marijuana, and it allows for new consumable technology such as inhalable devices. Another provision from the bill that companies are jumping on is it allows the storage of low-dose THC products overnight at companies’ satellite locations.
“Before, we operated as a pickup location,” said Terrence Baugh, the marketing manager for goodblend Texas. “So, you could still come in and speak with our guides, but you couldn’t actually shop in store. You had to pre-place your order and then pick it up on your way out.”
Consumers would wait an average of three days before their order was ready for pickup at goodblend’s storefront in San Antonio. With overnight storage being approved, businesses can now offer same-day shopping for patients.
“I drive quite a distance to get here,” said Mary Jane Trammell. She drives at least 45 minutes each way when going to pick up her products. “I like that we can shop here now.”
The process begins at goodblend’s Austin location, where they grow and process marijuana into products like edibles and tinctures.
Rather than packing individual orders, inventory specialists, like Lindsey Sherman, just have to apply labels to each product and pack them in bulk.
A large part of keeping track of the transfer from the Austin hub to the San Antonio satellite location relies on the manifest.
“It is both a physical and digital copy for DPS regulations,” Sherman said. “Ultimately, it’s just a catalog of what we have with us, that way if we ever get pulled over or stopped for any reason, we’re always being compliant.”
They also have to follow security measures.
“It needs to have a specific tamper-proof lock, and then an actual gold lock with a code on it,” said Sherman.
Baugh says one of the most challenging parts of undergoing the new satellite storage process was ensuring all details were followed and communicating with the Texas Department of Public Safety, as this was a new process for them as well. He says, however, increasing access overcomes the hurdles. Other goodblend locations are expected to be approved for overnight storage in the future.