Pentagon Reaffirms Marijuana Ban for Troops Despite Federal Reclassification Efforts
The Pentagon has confirmed that marijuana remains strictly prohibited for all U.S. military service members and civilian Department of Defense employees, even as the Trump administration moves to reclassify the drug at the federal level. In a July 9 memo, Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata emphasized that rescheduling marijuana would not decriminalize it under federal law, and that violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 112a—covering wrongful use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of marijuana—remain punishable. The clarification follows an executive order by President Trump to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, and a directive from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding state-licensed medical marijuana. The Pentagon cited national security, public safety, and operational readiness as reasons for maintaining the ban. However, the military has recently relaxed recruitment policies regarding single prior convictions for marijuana possession, and federal research into marijuana for PTSD treatment continues.
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