Washington, DC: Military personnel and civilian Pentagon employees continue to face sanctions for their possession and use of cannabis, despite changes in the substance’s federal classification.
According to a recent memo issued by Anthony Tata, the Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness, marijuana use remains “punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.” The memo stipulates that this prohibition continues to apply to state-authored medical cannabis products, despite the US Attorney General recently rescheduling them under federal law. (That order is currently being challenged in court.)
“Service members who violate the UCMJ may be held appropriately accountable, including through judicial, nonjudicial, or administrative action,” the memo states.
A decision on whether to reschedule all botanical cannabis to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act remains pending.
This spring, the US Army eased longstanding rules for applicants with prior marijuana possession convictions. An Army representative explained that the policy change was necessary because most states now regulate the use of cannabis for either medical or adult-use purposes.
Additional information on the memo is available from Marijuana Moment, which first reported the story.