The U.S. Army has recently revised its drug policy and has dictated a clear prohibition of the usage of intoxicating hemp cannabinoid products, including delta-8 THC, by its servicemembers.
The Army is concurrently advising its personnel against the consumption of food items containing poppy seeds, as these can cause inaccurate positive results during opioid testing. The updated drug misuse protocols were officially implemented on October 4.
Originally, the Army issued a stringent ban on the use of hemp-related products through a policy released in 2020. However, the surging prevalence of delta-8 and other intoxicating cannabinoids in the largely nonexistent regulatory space of the cannabis market necessitated further refinement. This freshly revised policy identifies products such as delta-8 THC as controlled substance analogues. This label encompasses synthetic cannabis and THC substitutes that imitate the effects on the human body produced by THC. The policy explains how the open market in many states is saturated with numerous synthetic THC substitutes, and these substances, such as delta-8 THC, possess the same potential for misuse as THC itself.
Increasing THC Issues and False Positives Risk
The Army will step up the detection of delta-8 THC consumption as part of its standard drug testing regimen. This modification follows reports revealing a substantial increase in positive THC detection within the Army’s personnel.
Michael Hicks, the drug testing coordinator at the Army Substance Abuse Program stationed at the installation, emphasizes that the commercial manufacture of THC-containing items, allowed by the 2018 Farm Bill, has aggravated the problem of THC consumption within the military. He underscored the widespread use of delta-8, indicating, “Our drug tests show that delta-8 usage is responsible for the majority of our positive results, greatly surpassing many other drugs we screen for.”
Also featured in the revised policy is a warning for soldiers about the potential risks of eating commonly consumed foods like poppyseed bagels. Ingesting such foods can unintentionally trigger false positives during opioid testing.
Other military branches, such as the Air Force and Navy, have also been addressing the issue of hemp-derived substances among their troops. Measures to counter the use of hemp-derived products, including non-psychoactive CBD, have been implemented. In the same vein, the Army Substance Abuse Program strongly advises against members bringing hemp-infused products such as shampoos, lotions, or lip balms onto bases. They warn, “Even products intended for pets are considered illegal.”