What Is the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT)? A Patient's Guide

The Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) is a secure online database run by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). CURT-registered physicians use it to enter low-THC cannabis prescriptions for eligible patients. Patients do not create a CURT account, register themselves, or pay a state registration fee.

Texas does not issue a traditional medical marijuana card. Instead, a licensed dispensary checks the patient’s prescription electronically in CURT. If you’re searching for how to get a medical card in Texas, the process is actually an evaluation with a qualified physician, followed, if the physician determines a prescription is appropriate, by electronic entry in CURT.

What Is CURT Texas?

CURT is the electronic registry used for Texas’s Compassionate Use Program. It allows participating physicians to enter eligible patients’ prescription information, and it allows licensed dispensing organizations to verify that information before dispensing a prescribed product.

CURT is not a patient application portal. Physicians register to use the system. Patients do not log in to create or manage a registry account.

Texas’s program is for eligible patients who are Texas residents and meet program requirements. The physician must assess the patient and determine whether low-THC cannabis is medically appropriate. An appointment or qualifying diagnosis does not guarantee a prescription.

For official program details, visit the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Compassionate Use Program and its CURT FAQ.

How CURT Works: The Patient Process

The registry process is designed to be electronic. Here’s what patients generally need to know:

1. Meet with a CURT-registered physician. The physician reviews your health information and decides whether a prescription is appropriate under Texas requirements.
2. The physician enters the prescription in CURT. If the physician prescribes low-THC cannabis, they enter the prescription information electronically. You do not submit a separate state application.
3. Visit a licensed Texas dispensary. Once your prescription is available in CURT, you or your legal guardian can contact or visit a licensed dispensing organization.
4. Provide identification details. Be ready to show photo identification and provide the patient’s last name, date of birth, and last five digits of their Social Security number. A legal guardian should also bring identification and proof of guardian status.
5. The dispensary verifies the record. The dispensary searches CURT using the identifying details and checks the prescription before dispensing. The dispensary may record dispensing information in the registry.

If the dispensary cannot find your prescription, first check that the information was entered correctly. If the details are accurate, contact your prescribing physician to confirm that the prescription was entered correctly. The DPS patient FAQ explains the patient and dispensary process.

Why Is There No Texas Medical Marijuana Card?

Texas uses an electronic prescription and registry model, not a patient-card model. A CURT record is what allows a participating dispensary to verify your prescription. You do not need a separate stateissued card to show at pickup.

That’s why people may search for a “Texas medical marijuana card” even though Texas does not issue a traditional patient card. In practice, getting started means finding a qualified physician for an evaluation. If the physician determines a prescription is appropriate, they enter it in CURT.

Learn more about the broader Texas Compassionate Use Program or see how to get medical marijuana in Texas.

Who Can See CURT Information?

CURT contains patient identification and prescription information. Under Texas law, patient-identifying information, including the fact that someone is listed as a patient, is confidential. The law limits access to the Texas Department of Public Safety, registered physicians, and dispensing organizations for Compassionate Use Program purposes. It also provides that DPS may release a patient’s registry information to the patient or someone the patient designates, upon request.

CURT is not a public patient directory. Information in the registry is not generally available as a public record. For legal details, review Texas House Bill 46, which added confidentiality provisions to state law.

As with any health-related information, share your details only with trusted medical providers and licensed dispensaries. Keep your identification information accurate, and contact your physician if your details change.

What Patients Should Know

• You do not create a CURT account. The physician enters your prescription.
• There is no patient state registration fee. The state does not require patients to register themselves or pay a CURT fee.
• A physical card is not issued. The dispensary verifies your prescription electronically.
• Bring the right information. Have photo identification ready, along with the patient’s last name, date of birth, and last five Social Security digits.
• A prescription is not automatic. The physician makes an independent medical decision.
• Use a licensed dispensing organization. Texas program prescriptions are verified through CURT.
• Keep your physician informed. If your name or other identifying information changes, contact your physician so they can advise on updating your record. For an overview of the appointment process, visit Jiffy Doctor’s Texas page. You can also review current Texas appointment pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need To Create A CURT Account?

No. Patients do not create CURT accounts or register themselves. Your physician enters your information and prescription when clinically appropriate. You then provide your identifying details to a licensed dispensary so it can verify the record.

What If My Information Changes?

Contact your prescribing physician if your name or other identifying information changes. The physician can tell you what information needs to be updated and how to make sure your CURT record matches the information you present to the dispensary. Do not assume you can edit the registry yourself.

How Do Renewals Work In CURT?

There is no separate patient card-renewal application. A prescription has its own authorized supply and refill details. Texas law provides for prescriptions with a supply of up to 90 days and up to four refills, subject to the physician’s prescription and applicable rules. Do not assume a prescription renews automatically. Contact your physician before the authorized prescription period ends to ask whether a follow-up evaluation or new prescription is appropriate.

Is My Information Private?

Texas law treats patient-identifying information in CURT as confidential, including whether a person is listed in the registry. Access is limited by law to DPS, registered physicians, and dispensing organizations for program purposes. Patients may ask DPS to release their registry information to them or to a person they designate.

Start With A Texas Telehealth Evaluation

If you’re considering the Texas Compassionate Use Program, start with an individual medical evaluation. Jiffy Doctor offers convenient online appointments with Texas-licensed physicians. Same-day appointments may be available, depending on scheduling. A physician will review your situation and decide whether a prescription is appropriate; an appointment does not guarantee approval.

Start your secure Texas intake to take the next step. We are happy to make the process clear, convenient, and easy to understand.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. Texas program requirements can change. Check current guidance with the Texas Department of Public Safety and speak with a qualified physician about your individual situation.

Helpful Links

• Start your secure Texas intake
• Texas medical cannabis information
• Current Texas appointment pricing
• Texas DPS Compassionate Use Program
• Texas DPS patient FAQs
• Texas DPS licensed dispensaries