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The U.S. Navy Says No to CBD

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Written by Alexandra Hicks

Although CBD is a popular and non-intoxicating natural remedy in the civilian world, it’s still prohibited for our active duty military personnel.

The Navy is officially warning sailors and marines not to partake in CBD. It’s frustrating and, for the most part, way over the top… but sadly it makes sense. Because these products aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, they can include unlisted ingredients – of primary concern being the addition of the cannabinoid THC.

Should a CBD product have more than trace amounts of THC, that could lead to a failed drug test, and subsequently, a dishonorable discharge. The U.S. Military has a zero-tolerance policy for all “illegal” drugs. The Navy also reports drug use to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

 

In a service-wide message sent last week by Navy officials, it was stated that, “Those claims about over-the-counter CBD products have yet to be proven. Those products are mostly not regulated or tested by the Food and Drug Administration, the Navy said in a service-wide message earlier this week. As a result, ingredients may be unknown and some products could contain higher concentrations of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which produces a high.”

The message continued, “”It can be impossible to determine where a CBD or hemp product was manufactured and what level of THC it may contain. Even trace amounts of THC can accumulate in the body and be detected in a urinalysis screening.”

Thankfully, this ban doesn’t apply to service members with prescriptions for FDA-approved CBD medications, such as Epidiolex. It also doesn’t prohibit the use of topical CBD products such as lotions, ointments, shampoos, conditioners, and cosmetics.

As mentioned above, failure to abide by these regulations regarding will absolutely result in harsh disciplinary action, and you definitely don’t want to land yourself in hot water with the U.S. Navy.  

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About the author

Alexandra Hicks

Managing editor at Cannadelics and U.S based journalist, helping spread the word about the many benefits of using cannabis and psychedelics.