Health News

Austin cannabis company grows with 5 new medical marijuana dispensaries

The new facility is located in North San Antonio.

Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife

Five new medical marijuana dispensaries are rolling into Texas. The Austin-based Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, one of only three licensed purveyors of medicinal cannabis in Texas, announced it is opening five new dispensaries across the state.

Compassionate Cultivation's new facilities officially opened in San Antonio, Houston, and Plano on July 14, and offers cannabis products to those with medical marijuana prescriptions. (Sorry, Texas hasn't legalized recreational weed yet.) Previously, patients across Texas had to drive to Compassionate Cultivation's Austin-area headquarters or pay a $25 delivery fee to get their medical marijuana.

“Patients deserve easy, convenient access to the life-changing medicines that improve their lives — and that includes medical marijuana,” said CEO Morris Denton. “Through our strategic relationships ... we’re thrilled to bring our products so much closer to our patients’ homes and to break down barriers to acquiring the critical medicine they and their families need.”

Though billed as "temporary dispensaries," a rep says the new facilities will remain open indefinitely. Compassionate Cultivation is not disclosing the exact address of the San Antonio dispensary, saying only that it is "located in the northeastern part of the city" and is open Fridays from 11 am-2 pm.

Along with San Antonio, the company opened an additional dispensary in Dallas and three in Houston. The Dallas-area facility is open Wednesdays from 12-3 pm.

The Houston sites are open on Tuesdays from 11 am-2 pm and Wednesdays from 11 am-2 pm. The Katy location is open on Fridays from 11 am-2 pm. Those with a valid prescription may find out more information, including addresses, via the company's website or by calling 512-614-0343.

health

Drop the Debt

UT announces free tuition for families with income under $100,000

Photo by dszc Getty Images

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Beginning next fall, some students accepted into schools within the University of Texas system will receive free tuition and have all fees waived, the board of regents announced on Wednesday.

In order to qualify, families of undergraduates must make less than $100,000 a year.

The board gave preliminary approval to the plan on Wednesday. After the full board’s consideration and vote on Thursday, the plan will include a new, immediate infusion of $35 million directly to campuses to offer the financial aid benefit. The plan also directs additional investment in endowments supporting financial aid to ensure a commitment for tuition relief.

In 2019, the regents established a $167 million endowment at UT Austin to completely cover tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students from families with an income of up to $65,000. In 2022, the regents approved a second endowment of almost $300 million called “Promise Plus” to extend the program to all UT academic institutions.

“To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us [...]” Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the board of regents, said.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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