{"id":25621,"date":"2018-09-11T19:02:08","date_gmt":"2018-09-11T19:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/11\/air-force-may-investigate-spacex-ceo-for-smoking-pot-while-canada-greenlights-its-use-for-troops\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:49:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:49:36","slug":"air-force-may-investigate-spacex-ceo-for-smoking-pot-while-canada-greenlights-its-use-for-troops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/09\/11\/air-force-may-investigate-spacex-ceo-for-smoking-pot-while-canada-greenlights-its-use-for-troops\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force may investigate SpaceX CEO for smoking pot, while Canada greenlights its use for troops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After SpaceX founder and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk smoked a little pot Thursday evening on comedian Joe Rogan\u2019s live podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience<\/a>, several news outlets have gone back <\/a>and forth <\/a>on whether Musk would be investigated by the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because SpaceX holds federal contracts and has access to classified information pertaining to U.S. government satellites, Musk presumably has a security clearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some media outlets reported that the Air Force is already looking into the incident, an official with the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force said there is currently no investigation underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll need time to determine the facts and the appropriate process to handle the situation,” the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Canadian military authorized the use of marijuana<\/a> by troops during off-duty hours \u2014 though they cannot partake until it becomes legal across Canada on Oct. 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if the Air Force ultimately decides not to investigate Musk, the juxtaposition of the two allies’ marijuana policies is stark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Canadian Department of National Defence dropped its marijuana use directive <\/a>with plenty of caveats, but most of them roughly mirror the way alcohol use is already treated by the U.S. military. As a baseline rule, Canadian service members cannot consume cannabis eight hours before any duty day and 24 hours before any operation involving weapons or vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the Canadian guidelines are more stringent than with alcohol consumption. For instance, cannabis products cannot be consumed 28 days before high-altitude parachuting (above 13,000 feet); work conducted in a hyperbaric environment, like open circuit SCUBA diving; or serving aboard a military aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musk, who is no stranger to controversy, took one drag off a joint that was comprised of both tobacco and marijuana during an appearance on Rogan\u2019s podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rogan, who works as a mixed martial arts commentator and stand-up comedian, lit the joint and asked Musk if he had tried it before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think I tried one once,\u201d Musk said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou probably can\u2019t [try it] because of stockholders, right?\u201d Rogan asked, while puffing the joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI mean, it\u2019s legal, right?\u201d Musk responded, before taking one puff off the joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The podcast took place in Rogan\u2019s studio, which is located in California and where marijuana is legal for recreational use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marijuana is still illegal according to U.S. federal law, however. Attorney General Jeff Sessions previously rolled back Obama administration policies dictating that the Justice Department would not pursue cases against individuals in states where the plant was legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musk, who is also CEO of electric car maker Tesla, also drank glasses of whiskey with Rogan during the podcast and discussed artificial intelligence, the possibility of human consciousness being a computer simulation, autonomous vehicles and a wide range of other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marijuana is still a controversial subject within the military community due to its illegality and the complications it poses for military recruits enlisting from states where the plant is legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\t