US Congress approved an amendment permitting service members to use hemp and CBD products. Sponsored by Representative Tulsi Gabbard, it was added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the House passed earlier in the week by 336 votes to 71.
“The Secretary of Defense may not prohibit the possession, use or consumption of a product by a member of the Armed Forces on the basis that it contains hemp or any ingredient derived from hemp,” the amendment states. The bill also includes a provision allowing personnel discharged for cannabis use to reenlist.
The federal government legalized hemp in 2018 and removed it from the controlled substances list. This opened the way for the CBD market containing less than 0.3% THC seen today, while causing confusion for law enforcement in some states where cannabis remained illegal.
If enacted, Gabbard's amendment would supersede the Defense Department's strict hemp rules. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group led by Senator Dianne Feinstein is trying to add a provision expanding hemp and CBD research to the Senate version of the NDAA.
