The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a measure that would broaden opportunities for military recruits who test positive for marijuana, directing additional branches of the Armed Forces to establish waiver systems similar to those already in place in the Army and Navy.
The amendment, sponsored by Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Dina Titus (D-NV), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, was adopted by voice vote on Tuesday as part of a package to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It drew no debate on the floor.
In recent years, the Army and Navy have introduced waiver programs allowing applicants who initially fail cannabis screenings to reapply, a step supporters say is essential amid widespread legalization and persistent recruitment challenges. The amendment calls on the Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force to follow suit.
“Given the ongoing recruitment and retention challenges undermining the Armed Forces readiness goals, it is critical that qualified individuals are not turned away for a single cannabis test,” the measure states.
Under the proposal, the secretary of defense would be tasked with creating a uniform waiver program across all branches, allowing prospective recruits rejected for cannabis use to seek enlistment again. The Pentagon would also need to assess whether it can identify and re-contact previously disqualified candidates.
A report detailing the program’s rollout and providing a standardized definition of waiver eligibility would be due to Congress within 180 days of enactment.
The House approved a similar provision in last year’s NDAA that sought to end marijuana drug testing as a condition of enlistment or officer commissioning, but the Senate stripped it from the final compromise bill.
Meanwhile, a separate amendment from Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) aimed at protecting service members’ right to use federally legal hemp products was blocked from consideration. That proposal followed a series of military branch memos banning the use of hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD and delta-8 THC, regardless of legality under federal or state law.
The NDAA package, including the cannabis waiver provision, now heads toward a final House vote before negotiations with the Senate.
Read the whole article from MarijuanaMoment here.
