Gaetz works to end cannabis testing for military enlistment

By Owen Girard

Published Jul. 6, 2023, 12:52 p.m. ET | Updated Jul. 6, 2023

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaking with attendees at the 2020 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 19, 2020. (Photo/Gage Skidmore, Flickr)

CRESTVIEW, Fla. (FLV) – Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Crestview, introduced an amendment that would remove marijuana testing requirements for those who are enlisting and being commissioned into the U.S. Armed Forces.

“Our military is facing a recruitment and retainment crisis unlike any other time in American history,” Gaetz said on social media. “I do not believe that prior use of cannabis should exclude Americans from enlisting in the armed forces.“

According to the Rand Corporation, there has been a large increase in medical waivers given to military enlistees over recent years. This is mostly due to the fact that over “half of all new recruits come from states where marijuana is now legal.”

Through 9/11 and the conflicts that followed, the U.S. military still saw roughly a 50% drop in participation and enlistment since the 1980s.

Elected officials have pointed out various causes of the recruitment shortage and what the country can do to address the problem.

On an interview with Fox News on Memorial Day, Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed his concerns with the military putting too much of an emphasis on “political ideologies” like “gender pronouns” and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

“I think that that’s caused recruitment to plummet,” DeSantis said. “I think it’s driven off a lot of warriors and I think morale is low.”

“I think you’ve got to get things re-moored to focusing on the core mission of why people want to join,” he said.

DeSantis served as an active duty member of the U.S. Navy from 2004 to his honorable discharge in 2010. He remained a reserve until 2019.

For Gaetz, removing the cannabis test requirements is a step in the right direction to fixing the recruitment shortage.

“I do not believe that prior use of cannabis should exclude Americans from enlisting in the armed forces,” Gaetz said in response to his amendment. “We should embrace them for stepping up to serve our country.”