A House committee is allowing an amendment to a defense bill that would expand waivers for military recruits who test positive for marijuana to proceed to a floor vote. This amendment, sponsored by Representatives Dave Joyce and Dina Titus, calls for the Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps to implement a permanent waiver system similar to those already in place for the Army and Navy. It also requires the Department of Defense to assess the feasibility of contacting previously rejected cannabis users for re-enlistment. However, a separate amendment filed by Representative Tony Gonzales, which would have allowed service members to lawfully use hemp products, was blocked from a floor vote. This comes as various military branches have banned the use of cannabis, including legal hemp products, by service members.

House Clears Path for More Recruits with Past Cannabis Use, but Hemp Ban for Active Troops Stays Put

Sep 9, 2025

Source:

Kyle Jaeger

Marijuana Moment

The military’s stance on cannabis is finally showing signs of a much-needed reality check. A House committee recently advanced an amendment to a major defense bill that would require the Air Force, Space Force, and Marines to create permanent waiver systems for recruits who test positive for THC. This follows similar successful programs already used by the Army and Navy to help meet recruitment goals. The plan even suggests reaching out to previously rejected applicants to give them a second shot. However, it wasn't all good news; a separate proposal to let active service members use legal hemp products was unfortunately blocked.

For the cannabis community, this is a massive win for common sense. It acknowledges that past or private cannabis use shouldn’t disqualify someone from serving their country, especially as legalization spreads nationwide. While the military still has a ways to go regarding hemp and CBD access for active members, lowering these entry barriers is a huge step toward ending the outdated stigma surrounding our favorite plant.

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