Active-duty service members often see CBD and hemp products on store shelves and online and assume they are harmless, legal wellness tools. For the U.S. military, however, the rules are very different. Despite the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC for civilians, the Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on CBD and most hemp-derived products for those in uniform.
In February 2020, the DoD issued a policy memorandum directing all branches to prohibit the use of hemp products, including CBD, for active and reserve service members. This directive was quickly implemented across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard through service-level regulations and general orders. For example, updated Air Force guidance states that using products containing or derived from hemp, including CBD and delta-8 THC, is prohibited regardless of route of administration or claimed THC content, with narrow exceptions for durable goods like clothing.
The Navy and Marine Corps have issued similar orders. ALNAV 074/20 and related guidance make it a punitive offense to use any product made or derived from hemp, including CBD, no matter the claimed or actual THC levels, and violations can trigger Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) action. Coast Guard policies mirror this approach, banning hemp and CBD products even when they are legal for civilians in the same state.
The rationale is straightforward: protecting readiness and the integrity of the drug-testing program. Military health and legal authorities emphasize that commercially available CBD and hemp products are poorly regulated; labels may under-report THC, omit it entirely, or be inaccurate. Even trace THC can accumulate enough to trigger a positive drug test, which, under military rules, is treated as unlawful drug use. DoD communications repeatedly stress that this policy is “necessary to ensure military readiness while securing the reliability and integrity of the drug testing program.”
Importantly, the ban covers more than oils and gummies. Recent Air Force and joint-base advisories list products such as lotions, bath bombs, acne treatments, granola, protein powders, shampoos, and hand sanitizers made from hemp or containing CBD as off-limits to service members. At the installation level, commands remind communities that CBD products are illegal to possess or use on military bases even for dependents and other civilians on federal property.
There are only narrow exceptions. Durable goods containing hemp—such as rope, fabrics, or clothing—are generally allowed because they are not intended to introduce cannabinoids into the body. In addition, some policies recognize FDA-approved cannabinoid drugs such as prescription cannabidiol (Epidiolex) or synthetic THC (dronabinol) when prescribed by a DoD-approved medical provider.
Debate continues in Congress and among advocacy groups about whether these rules are too strict given CBD’s popularity and potential therapeutic uses, but as of late 2025, the bottom line remains clear: active-duty and reserve personnel are broadly prohibited from using CBD and most hemp-derived consumable products, even if they are fully legal for friends and family in the civilian world. Service members with questions are urged to consult their chain of command, legal office, or health-care provider before using any product that might contain hemp or CBD.