Marijuana Policy in U.S. Special Operations

In U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), marijuana policy is not a separate “SOF-only” standard—it is governed by the same federal law, Department of Defense (DoD) rules, and Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) enforcement framework that applies across the force. The operational demands of SOF can make the consequences feel uniquely high, but the baseline rule is simple: marijuana remains prohibited for active-duty personnel, even in states where civilian use is legal.

For active-duty SOF members (including those assigned to units under U.S. Special Operations Command), marijuana use, possession, or distribution can trigger UCMJ action and/or administrative separation. Installations also prohibit marijuana possession and use regardless of local state legalization, and commanders retain broad authority to enforce good order, discipline, and readiness standards.

Testing and enforcement are central to the DoD approach. The Military Personnel Drug Abuse Testing Program establishes routine and command-directed drug testing designed to deter and detect drug misuse among Service members. In practice, that means a SOF operator is subject to the same testing regime and the same “wrongful use” exposure as any other Service member—rank, specialty, and unit pedigree do not create exemptions.

A major point of confusion in recent years has been cannabinoids beyond marijuana flower—especially CBD and hemp-derived products. DoD and Service-level guidance commonly warns that products marketed as CBD or hemp may be mislabeled or contaminated with THC, creating a risk of a positive urinalysis and disciplinary consequences. Even where a product is lawfully sold to civilians, it can remain prohibited for uniformed personnel because the military standard is driven by readiness and enforceability, not retail legality.

Veterans—including veterans who previously served in SOF—enter a different legal and policy environment because they are no longer subject to the UCMJ as civilians. Many veterans live in states with medical or adult-use cannabis laws and may choose to use cannabis for conditions such as chronic pain or PTSD. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not treat cannabis like other medications: VA clinicians may discuss marijuana use with patients, but they generally may not recommend or prescribe marijuana because it remains federally illegal and is not an FDA-approved medication.

VA guidance also emphasizes practical boundaries: veterans should not bring marijuana onto VA property, even if obtained legally under state programs, because federal rules apply on federal facilities. The result is a split reality—state legality may shape access, while federal status shapes clinical constraints and facility rules.

Bottom line: active-duty SOF are held to a strict prohibition framework anchored in UCMJ enforcement and readiness-based drug testing, while SOF veterans operate under civilian and state law but encounter federal limitations inside VA healthcare systems and other federal settings.