Air Force and Space Force give applicants who test positive for THC a second chance
Through
Use of cannabis can no longer bar potential applicants from enlistment in the US Air Force or US Space Force as long as they stop using after duty. Recruits who otherwise qualified for the service but tested positive for THC at the Military Entrance Processing Stations could be granted a waiver, Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, told the Air Force Times.
He stressed that applicants who test positive for THC during their time at MEPS would be “permanently” barred from enlisting in the Air Force or Space Force. However, as more states legalize marijuana, the number of THC-positive applicants is increasing. “We have to be realistic today,” Thomas continued. “We must use common sense”
Photo by RapidEye/Getty Images
Although it’s unclear when this policy will be finalized, other branches of the US military have taken similar steps. Last year, the Navy conducted a two-year pilot program during which applicants who test positive for marijuana or THC at MEPS can transfer to boot camp after a three-month waiting period. The Marine Corps has a slightly different approach to THC positive recruits, allowing them to revert to MEPS after 45 days.
Recent legislative efforts
Meanwhile, in July 2020, the House of Representatives approved a measure allowing military service members to use hemp products and its derivatives.
RELATED: Marijuana & Military Troops: House lawmakers approve two cannabis-related measures
Recently, members of the same chamber also greenlit two amendments to a defense spending bill addressing marijuana-related issues in the US military.
The first proposal, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), focused on the standards for sentencing cannabis under the Military Code. It asked a Military Justice Review Panel to “develop recommendations that establish appropriate sentences for offenses related to marijuana use and possession.”
RELATED: Want to Be an FBI Agent? Make sure your cannabis consumption doesn’t exceed this number
Rep. Seth Moulton’s (DMA) other proposal calls for a Department of Defense-led study of the effectiveness of cannabis for certain medical conditions compared to opioids.
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
Post a comment: