Posted on Sep 17, 2021
A1C Chris Pointer
17K
138
81
15
14
1
40929b1
Now that marijuana has been legalized in the majority of the US and the stigma against it has changed, smoking weed is akin to smoking cigarettes, and some would argue smoking cigarettes is more harmful. I was looking at the Army DRB and they seem to be approving or changing discharges for people who were discharge solely for marijuana usage. I’m not 100% sure but I assume it’s because the narrative surrounding weed has changed.

So in your opinion should the military as a whole upgrade or edit discharges that were based solely on marijuana usage?
Posted in these groups: Military men DischargeDrug DrugsImgres LawAa636cc5 DD214
Avatar feed
Responses: 29
SSgt Russell Stevens
2
2
0
I've never known cigarettes to impair a person so badly they kill someone on the road. Someone high on weed killed my wife when he T-boned her car in an intersection. That being said I do not want to hear how harmless weed is.
(2)
Comment
(0)
A1C Chris Pointer
A1C Chris Pointer
>1 y
What about alcohol?
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSgt Russell Stevens
SSgt Russell Stevens
4 y
A1C Chris Pointer - Don't get me started there. It's not harmless either.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC James Cameron
2
2
0
As long as it’s a Schedule 1 controlled substance Federally whatever character of discharge will likely stand firm.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Retired
2
2
0
The majority of states have decriminalized it. They can’t make it legal and the military is beholden to that federal law. While I think it should be as legal as alcohol, until it is there’s nothing to change. If they legalize it then they’ll have to reevaluate those discharges.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Roger Ayscue
2
2
0
Absolutely NOT.
At the time that the discharge was given it was a against the law everywhere.
The Discharge and the crime that made it necessary was not the Marijuana.
It was the disobedience to what the Army said to do. The Army says Don't smoke dope. Those individuals Smoked Dope...The Army said Don't they did it because they did not care what the Army wanted. So no, do not upgrade anything, they disregarded Army regulations and their responsibility to the Army, their units, their families and everything else in favor of getting high.
They do not deserve the consideration of a second thought.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MCPO Hilary Kunz
2
2
0
I’m going to have to go with the, you knew the rules and broke them. That’s how I didn’t get busted, followed the rules as best I could, why would others get a pass afterwards?
(2)
Comment
(0)
CPO Arthur Weinberger
CPO Arthur Weinberger
>1 y
I concur.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
COL William Oseles
1
1
0
Irrelevant that states have legalized marijuana.
Congress has not updated the UCMJ and until THAT IS DONE IS IS still A FEDERAL CRIME.
In fact it is STILL a Federal crime no matter what the States do.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Edward Tilton
1
1
0
He is going to remove his tonsils, the hard way
(1)
Comment
(0)
A1C Chris Pointer
A1C Chris Pointer
>1 y
Huh?
(1)
Reply
(0)
COL William Oseles
COL William Oseles
4 y
A1C Chris Pointer - I agree, other than the joke about the shotgun removal device.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Frank McQuiggan
1
1
0
I would say no because it was a crime then and it's still against federal law. Why go back and tell someone that what they did back years ago is now ok. It was against the law and they paid the price. Live with the choices you make
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO2 Mike Vignapiano
0
0
0
IMO, it is still illegal on the Federal level & as a military member, you’re part of the Federal government. Maybe the penalties shouldn’t be as harsh as they were but it’s still not legal in all the states.
What if you have a joint, or a vape, on you when overseas & you go off base? You’re still subject to the laws of your host country, just ask Brittney Griner.
Maybe change any BCDs with an R4 code to a General or Administrative. But I wouldn’t change the code.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SCPO Lloyd Sikes
0
0
0
The stigma still exists among a lot of old timers, I am 82, so you break the law-pay the price. Since no other law I know of is retro, this should not start a procedure of forgiveness.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close