An officer in the United States Army Reserve has had his promotion rescinded following scrutiny over his ownership stake in a state-licensed marijuana dispensary in New York, highlighting ongoing tensions between federal law and state-level cannabis legalization.
Maj. William Norgard said his planned promotion to lieutenant colonel was withdrawn and that he received a formal reprimand after an Army investigation into his involvement in the cannabis industry. According to reporting by Task & Purpose, Norgard was also previously investigated for allegedly possessing and distributing marijuana, though he maintains his business activities were entirely legal under state law.
“We were operating legally within the bounds of the state in New York, and we do not cross federal lines in business,” Norgard said, questioning why his role as a reservist would subject him to penalties not faced by civilians engaged in the same industry.
The case underscores a longstanding conflict: while many states have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. That discrepancy carries particular consequences for military personnel, who are governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
In a statement, Army spokesperson Christopher Surridge said service members who “wrongfully use, manufacture, and/or distribute marijuana could face action” under the UCMJ, including the possibility of court-martial proceedings.
Norgard’s attorney, Christopher Nineviller, is challenging the reprimand and plans to submit a formal response. If the Army upholds its decision, he indicated the case could be appealed to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, with the possibility of litigation to follow.
The dispute comes at a time when more states are expanding legal cannabis markets, creating complicated legal terrain for reservists and National Guard members who live and work under state laws but remain subject to federal military rules.
For now, Norgard says he intends to continue fighting the Army’s decision, framing the issue as one of fairness and clarity for service members navigating conflicting legal systems.
Read the whole article from Ganjapreneur here.
