A federal defense bill expected to be passed by the US Congress in the coming weeks would end marijuana testing for military recruits and prospective officers.
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A defense bill released this week—which must be approved to continue funding the nation’s defenses and military operations—includes a provision prohibiting the military from requiring a cannabis test for enlisting or commissioning. This provision coincides with the federal government’s move to reschedule marijuana and comes at a time when 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 38 have legalized marijuana for medical use.
The provision aims to address dwindling military recruitment numbers. A Gallup poll released last month found that 12% of Americans aged 18-29, the prime demographic for military recruiting, reported using marijuana regularly (defined as at least 10 days per month).
The provision to end cannabis testing for enlistment and commissioning in this year’s House Armed Services Committee draft of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) follows the military branches’ own steps to lessen the impact of past marijuana use.
The Air Force is conducting a popular pilot program that allows recruits who test positive for marijuana to retest. The Navy recently expanded its program to grant waivers to recruits who test positive for marijuana, and the Army also has a waiver program.
This year’s NDAA provision mirrors an amendment proposed by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., for last year’s defense bill, which never got a vote.
