This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

	Amend SB 1879 on third reading by adding the following 
appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering 
subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
	SECTION ____.  Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
	(c)  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under 
Subsection (a) for the possession of marihuana that the person 
possessed the marihuana as a patient of a physician licensed to 
practice medicine in this state pursuant to the recommendation of 
that physician for the amelioration of the symptoms or effects of a 
bona fide medical condition.
	(d)  An agency, including a law enforcement agency, of this 
state or a political subdivision of this state may not initiate an 
administrative, civil, or criminal investigation into a physician 
licensed to practice medicine in this state on the ground that the 
physician discussed marihuana as a treatment option with a patient 
of the physician or made a written or oral statement that, in the 
physician's opinion, the potential benefits of marihuana would 
likely outweigh the health risks for a particular patient.
	SECTION ____.  Subchapter B, Chapter 164, Occupations Code, 
is amended by adding Section 164.0525 to read as follows:
	Sec. 164.0525.  MEDICAL USE OF MARIHUANA.  A physician may 
not be denied any right or privilege or be subject to any 
disciplinary action solely for making a written or oral statement 
that, in the physician's professional opinion, the potential 
benefits of marihuana would likely outweigh the health risks for a 
particular patient.
	SECTION ____.  The change in law made by this Act to Section 
481.121, Health and Safety Code, applies only to an offense 
committed on or after the effective date of this Act.  An offense 
committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the 
law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.  For purposes of this section, 
an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if 
any element of the offense was committed before that date.