Support for marijuana seems to be growing for Democrats and some Republicans alike. Congress will soon consider several must-pass bills that pot proponents hope to use as vehicles for language that would take the heat off marijuana users. Thankfully, several of our conservative friends have crafted policies to choke the stronghold of the marijuana industry.
This week, the House Armed Services released their draft of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act “NDAA” for Fiscal Year 2025 (H.R. 8070). Buried deep in the 1,000-page bill is a provision sponsored by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to eliminate the requirement that recruits submit to a marijuana drug test before enlisting. While active-duty servicemen will still be subject to rules that require them to remain drug-free, new recruits can smoke pot before walking into the drug testing clinic.
Gaetz’s reasoning behind this policy change is to address the severe decline in military recruitment. From 1980 until 2020, recruitment dropped by 58%. Applications alone dropped 73% from 768,532 prospects to 205,105. That same year, the Department of Defense reported that 77% of youth ages 17-24 were disqualified from serving due to factors such as obesity, drug abuse, and medical/physical health. There is no doubt that the military will need to be more creative with their recruitment efforts but setting a precedent where individuals can be active marijuana users before entering the service poses a significant risk to our military readiness.
Studies show that marijuana is the most used drug in the military resulting in 73% of all positive drug tests. Various branches of the military currently issue waivers on a case-by-case basis for those who test positive for its use. The Air Force and Space Force launched a pilot program that allows certain recruits to re-test after some time. These programs will likely stay long-term. However, the new measure introduced by Gaetz does not allow recruiters to even test applicants for cannabis use and therefore eliminates the use of discretion by military recruiters.
This measure comes on the heels of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) reclassification of marijuana. Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I drug which places it in the same category as heroin or ecstasy. These drugs are defined as having “potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” If the Biden administration moves forward with this rule change, it will become a Schedule III drug such as Tylenol with codeine or steroids- drugs with low risk of dependence. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and the World Health Organization, marijuana is indeed addictive. NIH has stated that “marijuana use disorder is common” and that “marijuana use can lead to harmful consequences for individuals and society.” The DEA’s decision is clearly not based on scientific evidence but on political calculation.
Some Members of Congress have come up with creative ways to combat pro-pot legislation. As the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (H.R. 8467) moves through the House, Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) has inserted language to put a stop to the mass production of cannabis. Also known as the “farm bill,” a previous version eased restrictions on growing nonintoxicating varieties of hemp. What drafters didn’t realize was that nonintoxicating and intoxicating hemp comes from the same plant that contains high levels of THC. The plant can be made into a synthetic called Delta-8. The industry has boomed over the last few years but at a cost such as a massive increase in life-threatening conditions due to this type of THC exposure. Smart Approaches to Marijuana reported that in just two years, the Virginia Blue Ridge Poison Control Center saw a 460% increase in Delta-8 THC-related calls. Likewise, Tennessee saw a 116% increase with 32 calls for kids under 6 years old.
Rep. Miller’s amendment to the current farm bill redefines hemp as “naturally, occurring, naturally derived and non-intoxicating cannabinoids.” This language prohibits the manufacturing of Delta-8 because of the chemical process involved and its intoxication levels. No longer would the hemp industry be unregulated and allowed to continue operating under a legal loophole.
Eagle Forum applauds Rep. Miller’s efforts to chip away at the dangerous marijuana industry. Although Gaetz’s amendment is already included in the NDAA bill that will go to the House floor, there will be opportunities for other members to strip the language out. Look for our Eagle Alerts to stay up-to-date on these and other important issues.