The current military intervention in Ukraine got me thinking about the relationship of marijuana and the military. Possibly because I lit up a joint to watch the news…but I digress.
Of course, cannabis use is currently prohibited in the United States military. However historically they have a long history together.
Medical Use in the Military
Cannabis in the military as medicine dates back to 1909, evidenced in a military manual from the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley who recommended cannabis indica for treating abdominal pains in horses, or to supplement ether for treating spasms. During World War I, military doctors recommended that the American Expeditionary Force carry cannabis indica tablets to treat headaches, insomnia, and cramps.
Recreational Use in the Military
Some of the earliest reports of recreational cannabis use in the military dates back to the Panama Canal Zone in 1916, where troops were noted to be using the drug. Also in 1916, thousands of US troops used marijuana while in Mexico on General John Pershing’s punitive expedition against Pancho Villa (1916-1917). Subsequently, in 1921, the commanding officer of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, prohibited the use of cannabis on the base.
A 1933 an official report by the U.S. Army Medical Corps published in the publication Military Surgeon, titled Marijuana Smoking in Panama, based on a study of U.S. Army personnel in the Panama Canal Zone, found that cannabis was generally not addictive and was less harmful to soldiers than alcohol. The report recommended that use of cannabis on military bases should continue to be prohibited, but outside of these areas there should be no further restriction.
Official use is cloudy up until the 1950s to the 1970s, when Edgewood Arsenal conducted experiments on human subjects with cannabis and its derivatives. The study found “no loss of motivation or performance after two years of heavy (military sponsored) smoking of marihuana.”
Vietnam War
Though alcohol was the drug most commonly used by American troops in the Vietnam War, cannabis was the second-most common. Initially rates of usage among deployed soldiers were comparable to those of their stateside peers, with 29% of troops departing Vietnam in 1967 reporting having ever used marijuana in their lives.
A 1976 study however showed that from 1967-1971, the proportion of troops having used marijuana peaked at 34% before stabilizing to 18%, while the number of troops who had used cannabis prior to deployment stayed around 8%. Cannabis use by troops in Vietnam was generally dealt with using Article 15 non-judicial punishment in units such as the 101st Airborne.
And that’s what the history of weed and the men in uniform looks like. Hopefully the Russian situation is resolved peacefully and as soon as possible. However, that should not deter you from heading on down to Ye Olde Stinky Leaf. Our budtenders are the best in town and they can help you take advantage of our amazing deals as well as flower you can’t find anywhere else.