Hi, what are you looking for?
By
Published
Flipboard
Reddit
Pinterest
Whatsapp
Whatsapp
Email
The U.S. Army no longer requires waivers for recruits with a single past marijuana conviction. Col. Angela Chipman, chief of the military personnel accessions and retention division, said marijuana conviction waivers were being approved at a 95% rate. Chipman called the waivers an “unnecessary administrative burden.”
The U.S. Army Just Made A Big Marijuana Policy Change
U.S. Army Training Official U.S. Army Photo.
A U.S. Army M1A3 Abrams tank fires a round during a live fire training exercise at Smardan Training Area, Romania, April 19, 2017. The combined exercise had U.S. and Romanian armored crewmen taking commands from a Romanian commander to prove the cohesion between units in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO mission involving the U.S. and its European Allies and partners in a combined effort to promote regional stability and deter aggression in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Army Pvt. Nicholas Vidro)
U.S. Army Training Official U.S. Army Photo.
A U.S. Army M1A3 Abrams tank fires a round during a live fire training exercise at Smardan Training Area, Romania, April 19, 2017. The combined exercise had U.S. and Romanian armored crewmen taking commands from a Romanian commander to prove the cohesion between units in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO mission involving the U.S. and its European Allies and partners in a combined effort to promote regional stability and deter aggression in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Army Pvt. Nicholas Vidro)
The use of marijuana or any usage of cannabis is currently prohibited in the United States military, but historically, it has been used recreationally by some troops, and some cannabis-based medicines were used in the military as late as the twentieth century.
Marijuana usage remains a significant issue in the U.S. Army due to its status as a federally controlled substance, enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy. While policies are evolving regarding past usage for recruits, active duty, guard, and reserve personnel face mandatory separation for positive drug tests.
Positive drug test results violate Article 112A of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), leading to prosecution and mandatory separation.
However, some things are beginning to change.
Recruitment Policy Change (As of April 20, 2026):
The U.S. Army has updated its policy to eliminate the need for waivers for recruits with a single past conviction for marijuana or associated paraphernalia possession.
Col. Angela Chipman, chief military personnel accessions & retention division, said, “Waivers were being approved at a 95 percent rate, so the higher approval authority created an unnecessary administrative burden.”
“The standards, when it comes to felonious behavior, have not changed,” she added. “We’re not going to lower that.”
However, soldiers are prohibited from using medical marijuana, even with a state-issued prescription.
U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Ian Wojick, assigned to 552nd Military Police Company, 25th Infantry, aims a DroneBuster, an anti-drone weapon, toward the sky during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, June 1, 2025.
This iteration of the JPMRC-X marks the second Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation conducted in the Philippines. As part of the Army’s premier regional CTC, JPMRC-X enables the U.S. Army, joint force, allies, and partners to develop skills in realistic environments and conditions. Through exportable capabilities, JPMRC-X strengthens war-fighting readiness, enhances multilateral relationships, and contributes to regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Keith Thornburgh)
U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Ian Wojick, assigned to 552nd Military Police Company, 25th Infantry, aims a DroneBuster, an anti-drone weapon, toward the sky during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, June 1, 2025.
This iteration of the JPMRC-X marks the second Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation conducted in the Philippines. As part of the Army’s premier regional CTC, JPMRC-X enables the U.S. Army, joint force, allies, and partners to develop skills in realistic environments and conditions. Through exportable capabilities, JPMRC-X strengthens war-fighting readiness, enhances multilateral relationships, and contributes to regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Keith Thornburgh)
Soldiers may also face administrative actions, including a bar to re-enlistment, a loss of tuition assistance for college or technical training, loss of opportunities to attend military schools, and suspension or loss of a security clearance.
Civilian personnel and contractors are not subject to the UCMJ, but they can still face career-impacting administrative actions. The most serious is the suspension or loss of a security clearance, which can affect a person’s ability to do their job.
Federal Classification Of Marijuana and Cannabis Is An Issue:
Since 1970, marijuana has been classified as Schedule I, defined as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. That is changing.
Marijuana is in the process of being reclassified from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance under federal law, following a December 2025 executive order. This shift recognizes accepted medical uses and lower dependency risks, differentiating it from high-risk drugs like heroin and cocaine.
While not fully legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level, this change facilitates more research, eases banking restrictions for businesses, and aligns federal policy more closely with state-level medical laws.
However, even with reclassification, military and federal employment policies may continue to restrict its use due to concerns about judgment, reliability, and security clearances.
Veterans Under The Care of The Department Of Veterans’ Affairs:
For veterans, the medical use of marijuana is a bit more permissive—but still restrictive. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not allow its doctors to prescribe medical marijuana, and until recently, even recommending it was largely off-limits due to federal law.
However, until the Food and Drug Administration removes cannabis from its Schedule I, as policy shifts in 2025 and 2026 suggest that this is about to change, it is still considered illegal. Some measures would allow VA doctors to discuss or recommend cannabis in states where it is legal, though they still cannot prescribe it or cover its cost.
Importantly, veterans will not lose VA benefits for participating in state-approved medical marijuana programs, and providers can include cannabis use in treatment planning.
Many former service members advocate for expanded access to medical marijuana as a treatment for conditions such as PTSD, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injuries, although further testing is warranted.
Marijuana Remains An Issue For the Army But Not A Major One:
Marijuana usage remains an issue for the U.S. Army in 2026, primarily affecting recruitment, retention, and military justice, under the UCMJ, rather than widespread active duty use.
While the Army has eased rules to allow recruits with a single conviction, it still maintains strict prohibition for service members, with positive tests leading to a possible mandatory separation.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He has served as a US Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer before injuries forced his early separation. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and his work was regularly featured in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle and Grafton News newspapers in Massachusetts.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Key Points and Summary – NASA’s X-43A Hyper-X program was a tiny experimental aircraft built to answer a huge question: could scramjets really work…
Key Points and Summary – China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon” stealth fighter has received a major upgrade that reportedly triples its radar’s detection range. -This…
Article Summary – The Kirov-class was born to hunt NATO carriers and shield Soviet submarines, using nuclear power, long-range missiles, and deep air-defense magazines…
Key Points and Summary – While China’s J-20, known as the “Mighty Dragon,” is its premier 5th-generation stealth fighter, a new analysis argues that…
Copyright © 2025 National Security Journal Corp. All Rights Reserved.