How long until marijuana is legal in the military?

SPC Andrew Griffin - You must have been in a different military.

SGT Jerrold Pesz - I think I have

SPC Andrew Griffin - Sailors used to recurve a daily alcohol ration on the ship. It's only been the last century that booze hasn't been allowed on ships, there are still beer days for long underway periods, and the US is the only major naval power to not have a ready supply of liquor onboard. So the military clearly isn't a drug free institution (assuming you understand the actual definition of a drug.)

I'm also curious how you think recruitment will work after marijuana is legalized. Currently. It's a pretty big red flag if people admit to ever trying it, but you can't hold a legal activity against someone. If they are over the required age to consume alcohol, you can't get away with asking if they've ever had a beer as a screening question. As use becomes common, you have to accept one of two realities: a, you have a bunch of former pot smokers in your midsts or b, you have a bunch of people who have lied about smoking with you. The former is an acknowledgement that the prohibition of marijuana is a losing battle at best that the military can't fight when society has accepted it. The latter means the armed services are only attracting a continually lower quality of soldier sailor, airman, and marine. I'd personally not like to see the second case prove true. So while the military can continue to resist societal change in theory, the end result is not worth it. People will enjoy their freedoms. The best and brightest will not be attracted to an organization that arbitrarily bans something because of propaganda put forth but a newspaper magnate who was protecting his paper monopoly.

Once society accepts marijuana, the military will follow suit. And hell, we are already looking at using much harder drugs for medical treatments (i.e. ecstasy for PTSD).

Marijuana is a drug. No other way to slice it. The damage that comes from drug use is not something the military need entertain. Those that joined, joined without having a question of what was expected from them when they spoke the oath of enlistment. Why they later think they need accommodated instead of fufilling their oath is a mystery to me. You want to smoke up, stay civilian.

A lot of retirees and veterans from years ago tell me that drugs were pretty common back in the day. I guess drug testing either wasn't so common, and when one was coming, they had plenty of notice. Commands would ensure their people got clean before a "sweep". Nothing like it is today with it's "randomized" system. Went nearly 365 days without a drug test in 2014, yet I think I've been selected for more urinalysis testing this year than most are in their entire career.

there was random pee in the bottle program in Germany in the early 70's. If you tested positive, you went on a 6 week program. Many made sure they tested positive so they would go on the program, fail it, and eventually be discharged. it was an easy way out.

ENS (Join to see) - With the exception of the entrance testing that you do when you get to bootcamp there was no testing. The drug testing program did not come into effect until January 1, 1982 after a Marine EA-6B Prowler crashed landed on the U.S.S. Nimitz in May of 1981. Autopsy results showed that several of the 11 dead flight deck crew tested positive for THC. The three dead aircrew men all tested negative. Although there was no evidence that they were under the influence Ronald Reagan instituted a zero tolerance program. And yes drug use was rampant bag then.