In just three months of Air Force and Space Force pilot programs that allow certain potential applicants to join the services despite testing positive for cannabis, the Air Force Recruiting Service granted waivers to 43 applicants. reported Military.com

Those numbers are much higher than Air Force recruiters thought. Based on previous years, they expected around 50 cases per year.

“As more and more states become more lenient towards cannabis and THC-derived drugs, we expect this to continue to increase,” Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman Chrissy Cuttita told the outlet.

Highlights of the new Air Force and Space Pilot programs

• For waivers, applicants have the option to retest the test 90 days after receipt;

• For the waiver come into consideration, Applicants must perform well on the Armed Forces proficiency test, have completed high school and have no other potential barriers to entry into service (medical or legal);

The military still does not tolerate other Schedule 1 substances, such as heroin, ecstasy or methamphetamines. When it comes to marijuana, they’ve been forced to give it a second chance since the plant has become almost mainstream.

According to Beth J. Asch, a senior economist at the nonprofit Rand Corp. who has researched cannabis-free policies in the armed forces, the trend toward legalization is having a profound impact on potential recruits.

“What we’re seeing is that the number of states that have legalized marijuana for either medical use or recreational use has increased since about 2000-2001,” Asch said. “Not surprisingly, as more states are doing so, the number of people coming from, or potentially coming from, states with legalized marijuana has increased.”

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