Marijuana Testing for Recruits Could End Under House’s Must-Pass Defense Policy Bill

Potential military recruits and prospective officers soon may not need to worry about drug testing if they recently used marijuana.

A provision included in the draft text of a must-pass defense policy bill released this week would prohibit the military from making someone take a test for cannabis as a condition for enlisting or commissioning into the military.

The provision, which still has to survive several legislative steps before becoming law, comes as policies and laws about marijuana are being relaxed around the country, including a move by the federal government this week to ease restrictions on marijuana use.

As the military services continue to struggle with recruitment in part because a large number of young Americans are ineligible to serve, military officials and some lawmakers have looked to soften a leading barrier to entering service: past marijuana use.

A poll released by Gallup last month found 12% of Americans aged 18 through 29 — the demographic most aligned with prime military recruiting age — said they used marijuana regularly, defined as at least 10 days per month.

Recreational marijuana use has been legalized in 23 states, and 38 states allow it for medical use. But the drug remains illegal at the federal level, and past use is still technically disqualifying for military service.