Matt Gaetz proposes end to cannabis testing for military

Natalie Fertig
·1 min read
13

A proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) would end cannabis testing for members of the military — both when they're enlisting and accepting a commission.

If the amendment is included in the NDAA, H.R. 2670 (118), it would address a growing issue in the U.S. military: the increasing number of recruits who test positive for marijuana use, particularly in states where it is legal. Nearly 33 percent more recruits tested positive in 2022 than in 2020, according to the New York Times.

That isn't the only weed amendment. Another would allow doctors at the VA to give medical opinions on cannabis use as a treatment to patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. That amendment was proposed by the co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus: Reps. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Dave Joyce (R-Ohio).

Another amendment would explicitly allow military members to consume CBD products that are legal under federal law. That amendment was proposed by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report included a proposed amendment to the NDAA that is not related to cannabis policy.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misspelled Tony Gonzales' name.