Marijuana Is ‘Most Prevalent Drug’ In Military Drug Tests, Department Of Defense Tells Senators, With Delta-8 THC Second – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

The Department of Defense (DOD) says that marijuana’s active ingredient delta-9 THC is the most common substance that appears on positive drug tests for active duty military service members. The second most common is delta-8 THC, which is found in a growing number of hemp-derived products that are being made available, including in states where marijuana itself remains illegal.

In a letter responding to a 2022 inquiry from Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and several colleagues, DOD explained last month what it’s doing to combat drug overdoses, promote harm reduction programs and destigmatize treatment, with a focus on address opioid misuse.

It also answered the senator’s question about the percentage of different types of substances that show up on randomized drug screenings for service members. As could be expected from general population use rates, cannabis is by far the most common reason for a positive drug test.

DOD said that in Fiscal Year 2021, delta-9 THC, the most well-known intoxicating cannabinoid, “was the most prevalent drug for active duty Service members, accounting for 73.4 percent of all unique drug positive active duty Service members” who underwent urinalysis.

That’s followed by delta-8 THC, which occurs naturally in trace amounts of the cannabis plant but is synthetically manufactured in these cases, DOD said. Delta-8 THC showed up in 42.7 percent of drug tests for service members.

“Most of the delta-8-THC positives also contain delta-9-THC,”…