{"id":38926,"date":"2022-08-31T21:27:35","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T21:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/08\/31\/air-force-space-force-may-let-in-applicants-who-test-positive-for-thc\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:12:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:12:28","slug":"air-force-space-force-may-let-in-applicants-who-test-positive-for-thc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/08\/31\/air-force-space-force-may-let-in-applicants-who-test-positive-for-thc\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force, Space Force may let in applicants who test positive for THC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Editor\u2019s note: This story was updated Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. to include a response from the Marine Corps.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marijuana use may no longer disqualify prospective applicants from joining the Air Force or Space Force, due to a possible policy change under consideration at the Air Force Recruiting Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recruiting boss Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas told Air Force Times in a recent interview that his organization is exploring the option of granting waivers to recruits who test positive for THC, marijuana\u2019s high-inducing chemical, at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/recruiting\/2020\/05\/03\/military-recruitment-survival-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">Military Entrance Processing Stations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf applicants test positive for THC when they go to the MEPS, they\u2019re permanently barred from entering the Air Force or the Space Force,\u201d he said. \u201cBut as more states legalize cannabis, there is an increased prevalence of THC-positive applicants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/03\/19\/fda-regulated-study-shows-promise-for-using-marijuana-to-treat-veterans-with-ptsd\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C-weed.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">FDA-regulated study shows promise for using marijuana to treat veterans with PTSD<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The first-of-its-kind study took years to get approval.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a THC-positive applicant is otherwise qualified to serve and the Air Force believes they will act in good faith and forgo cannabis once in the service, Thomas said those would be grounds for a waiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have to be realistic today,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cWe need to exercise common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The service did not answer when that policy may be finalized or how many people have been turned away for positive THC tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pentagon prohibits troops from smoking, eating or otherwise using marijuana and marijuana-derived products, including those with CBD or THC. However, it\u2019s up to the services to set their own policies on how to handle applicants who use those products before joining the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/03\/12\/marijuana-legalization-hasnt-harmed-armys-recruit-outcomes-study-says\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/414526.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Marijuana legalization hasn\u2019t harmed Army\u2019s recruit outcomes, study says<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The study compared the information from Army enlistment contracts with the career outcomes of each recruit over nearly two decades.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force isn\u2019t the first branch to move toward giving pot users a second chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In April 2021, the Navy started a two-year pilot program in which otherwise qualified applicants who test positive for marijuana or THC at MEPS can get a waiver to move on to boot camp following a 90-day waiting period. That experiment will run until April 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a recruit turns out to have THC in their system while at Recruit Training Command, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/01\/08\/navy-boot-camp-lengthened-to-10-weeks-to-prepare-recruits-for-life-in-the-fleet\/\" target=\"_blank\">Navy\u2019s version of basic training<\/a>, waivers to let them return have been available for years, a service spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo waiver can be authorized for a positive drug test for anything other than marijuana or THC,\u201d Commander Dave Benham said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2022\/04\/26\/can-soldiers-consume-cbd-energy-drinks\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Untitled-design-56-1.png-1.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Can soldiers consume CBD energy drinks?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">There&#039;s no guarantee hemp products won&#039;t show up on Army drug tests.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Army also enforces a 90-day waiting period before aspiring soldiers who test positive for THC at MEPS can ask for a waiver to join the service. If a first-time offender then pops positive for any drug on their second test, they are permanently disqualified from joining the Army, spokesperson Brian McGovern said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Marine Corps allows THC-positive recruits to request a waiver that overrides their disqualification. If approved, they can return to MEPS after 45 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defense Department data from 2020 provided to Air Force Times shows that 8% of Americans between the ages of 17-24 are disqualified from military service due to drug abuse, which covers a broader range of prescription and illegal drugs than marijuana alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The military services have little control over rules related to illegal substances, particularly in cases like pot where the drug can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2021\/07\/24\/when-will-marijuana-be-federally-legal-and-what-would-it-mean-for-troops-clearance-holders\/\" target=\"_blank\">legal at the state level but not federal<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All but 11 states have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2021\/04\/14\/3-consequences-of-using-marijuana-after-your-state-legalizes\/\" target=\"_blank\">legalized marijuana for medical and\/or recreational use<\/a>: Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2494\" height=\"1663\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg 2494w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Weed.jpg_d0e949.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2494px) 100vw, 2494px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A marijuana bud is seen before harvest in a rural area near Corvallis, Ore., in 2016. Changes in marijuana laws across the country are having an effect on military recruiting. (Andrew Selsky\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than half of all new recruits come from states where medical marijuana is legal, the federally funded think tank Rand Corp. said last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combined U.S. medical and recreational cannabis sales could reach $33 billion by the end of 2022, according to the trade publication MJBizDaily. Thousands of dispensaries have sprung up across the country, while the market for products and services that use the calming cannabinoid CBD is booming as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nathalie Grogan, who studies military personnel at the Center for a New American Security, said adjusting the rules on marijuana could play a role in opening the door to as much as one-third of young American men who may have disqualifying past criminal conduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOver-policing of growing minority populations and some states\u2019 legalization of marijuana may be leading to an untenable trajectory if the standards remain unchanged,\u201d Grogan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drug sobriety requirements are one piece of a larger conversation on how communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by uneven law enforcement and sentencing, and recent criminal justice reforms to address those disparities, factor into military recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2020\/09\/09\/navy-ramps-up-its-regulation-of-cbd-products\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"194\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Djyi4j3U4AA3g4C.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Navy ramps up its regulation of CBD products<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The service says the products &quot;could negatively impact mission readiness.&quot;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe military now bars from service most candidates with a significant criminal record or documented history of drug use. At the same time, arrests and drug use are increasing among American youth,\u201d Grogan said. \u201cArrest rates are higher in low-income communities and communities of color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black people are more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, though people of both races use marijuana at similar rates, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. That can further complicate the military\u2019s difficulties in recruiting a force that looks like America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amid that debate, Rand Corp. has argued that Army recruits with histories of low-level marijuana use perform on par with other soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat should be welcome news in recruiting offices nationwide,\u201d Rand said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWe have to be realistic today,\u201d Air Force recruiting boss Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":71639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":67,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","home","left-column"],"primary_category":"your-military"}}},"categories":[101,24,88,16,26,67],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3392],"class_list":["post-38926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-air-force"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"Z6IW6HJTV5F67I4PXASY5BPET4","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/08\/31\/air-force-space-force-may-let-in-applicants-who-test-positive-for-thc\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Air Force, Space Force may let in applicants who test positive for THC - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cWe have to be realistic today,\u201d Air Force recruiting boss Maj. 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