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​PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF HEMP PRODUCTS UPDATED

UNCLASSIFIED//

ROUTINE

R 021954Z JUL 20 MID110000802701U

FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC

TO ALNAV

INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
CMC WASHINGTON DC

BT
UNCLAS

ALNAV 069/20

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUN//

SUBJ/PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF HEMP PRODUCTS UPDATED//

REF/A/DOC/DOD/FEB 20//

REF/B/DOC/SECNAVINST/APR

NARR/REF A IS OFFICE OF UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND 
READINESS MEMORANDUM / ADOPTION OF PUNITIVE GENERAL ORDERS TO ADDRESS USE OF 
HEMP PRODUCTS 26FEB20.  
REF B IS SECNAVINST 5300.28F MILITARY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND 
CONTROL//

RMKS/1.  On December 20, 2018, the President signed into law the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018, removing industrial hemp from the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C.  802(16)) and excluding from the definition of 
marijuana those hemp products containing up to 0.3 percent 
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry weight basis.  THC in marijuana and in 
those hemp products containing more than 0.3 percent THC remain illegal.

2.  Due to this change in the law, new hemp products are commercially 
available in the United States, the normal use of which could cause a 
positive urinalysis result.  The United States Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) does not determine or certify the THC concentration of commercially 
available hemp products, such as cannabidiol (also known as CBD).  
Accordingly, these products may contain appreciable levels of THC, yet omit 
any reference to THC on the product label and/or list an inaccurate THC 
concentration.  Consequently, Sailors and Marines cannot rely on the 
packaging and labeling of hemp products in determining whether the product 
contains THC concentrations that could cause a positive urinalysis result 
reference (a).

3.  Substance misuse by members of the Armed Forces is incompatible with 
military standards of good order and discipline, performance, and operational 
readiness.  It is the goal of the Department of the Navy to eliminate 
substance abuse.  The use of products containing or derived from hemp may 
interfere with the Navy and Marine Corps Drug Testing Program and result in 
the reporting of unlawful levels of THC in Sailors and Marines.  In order to 
ensure military readiness and the reliability and integrity of the Drug 
Testing Program, the knowing ingestion (orally, intravenously, through 
smoking/vaporization, or through other means) of products containing, or 
products derived from, hemp is prohibited reference (a) and (b).  Failure by 
military personnel to comply with this ALNAV is a violation of the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Article 92, Failure to Obey a Lawful General 
Order, and any other UCMJ article that may apply.  Violations may result in 
administrative and/or disciplinary action.

4.  Effective immediately:
    a.  Sailors and Marines are prohibited from knowingly using any product 
made or derived from hemp (as defined in 7 U.S.C.  1639o), including CBD, 
regardless of the products THC concentration, claimed or actual, and 
regardless of whether such product may lawfully be bought, sold, and used 
under the law applicable to civilians.  Use means to inject, ingest, inhale, 
or otherwise introduce into the human body.
    b.  This prohibition does not apply to the ingestion, consumption, or 
application of cannabinoid formulations approved as drugs by the FDA 
Administration for which the Service member has a valid prescription, such as 
Dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) and cannabidiol (Epidiolex).  A prescription 
will be deemed valid if issued by the Service Members assigned Department of 
Defense approved medical service provider or a civilian medical professional 
whose care the Service member was referred or directed to seek reference (b).

5.  ALNAV 057-19 is superseded by this update.

6.  The primary point of contact for this message is Assistant Secretary of 
the Navy, (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Drug Demand Reduction Program.
    a.  For United States Marine Corps Commands:  Mr. Eric Hollins, 
eric.c.hollins@usmc.mil or by phone at (703) 784-9526.
    b.  For Navy Commands:  Ms. LaNorfeia Parker, lanorfeia.parker@navy.mil, 
or by phone at (901) 874-4900.

7.  This ALNAV is effective immediately until superseded or cancelled, 
whichever comes first.

8.  Released by the Honorable Kenneth J. Braithwaite, Secretary of the 
Navy.//

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UNCLASSIFIED//
 

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