US Congress Approves CBD Use for Military Personnel

The US Congress has passed an amendment allowing military personnel to use CBD products. The House of Representatives voted in favor of changes that permit members of the US national defense forces to use CBD. The amendment package also allows the use of other products derived from cannabis and gives service members who have admitted to using cannabis the opportunity to reenlist in the military.

According to the amendment: “The Secretary of Defense may not prohibit a product containing cannabis, or any ingredient derived from cannabis. Nor may they prohibit the possession, use, or consumption of such a product by a service member, provided that such possession, use, or consumption complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws.”

These changes were necessary after the Department of Defense, in early 2020, banned service members from using CBD, despite the product being legal at the federal level. Because of this contradiction, different branches of the armed forces established their own rules regarding CBD use.

In 2019, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stated that the Department of Defense was concerned about traces of THC found in some CBD products. As a result, the Air Force and Navy maintained a strict ban on CBD use. NASA, which is not officially a military branch, warned its employees that some CBD products may contain residual THC. Therefore, using CBD products could lead to failing a drug test and subsequent dismissal.

The issue of cannabis use by military personnel has been controversial for many years, even decades. However, the new legislative package represents another progressive step, as even small changes in this area are considered progress.

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