U.S. Army Bans Use of Hemp-Derived Delta-8 THC Products

The U.S. Army has updated its drug policy to specifically ban delta-8 THC and other intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids, Marijuana Moment reports.

The Army first ruled against the use of hemp products in 2020 due to their potential to cause a failed drug test. However, those guidelines were issued before delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids had become more readily available — and now, intoxicating hemp products that behave very similar to cannabis are widely available online and in retailers across the country.

Specifically, the new rules ban “synthetic cannabis and other tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substitutes that have no known application other than mimicking the effects of THC in the human body.”

“Numerous synthetic THC substitutes are now available on the open market in many States. Synthetic cannabis such as Delta-8–THC and other THC substitutes are used in drugs such as ‘spice,’ which are so closely related in action to THC as to make it obvious that synthetic cannabis and THC substitutes will have the same potential for abuse as THC.” — Excerpt from the Army Substance Abuse Program rules

The update mentions that soldiers will undergo random screenings for delta-8 during drug testing. Army officials also warned soldiers against eating foods that contain poppyseeds, which can cause false positives on drug tests, the report said.