Army Reminds Soldiers to Avoid Poppy Seeds and Delta-8 in Updated Substance Abuse Guidelines

The Army recently revised its 142-page substance abuse policy to remind soldiers to avoid poppy seeds and delta-8, a mild cannabinoid, both of which can result in a positive result on drug screening tests.

The regulations, revised Oct. 4, detail the Army’s programs to combat substance abuse in the ranks, including guidelines for smart drug testing, who is responsible for administering the testing, and protocol for carrying the test container into the restroom. and deliver the sample.

For example, a person who is required to supervise a soldier taking a urine test must be of “impeccable moral character and sufficient maturity to preserve the dignity of the soldier being tested,” the rules say.

Delta-8 was already banned, but the October 4 edition reiterates its dangers and reminds soldiers that ingestion of the drug is prohibited by the army.

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol is a weaker form of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. It occurs naturally, but most delta-8 THC found in commercial products is produced in a laboratory, according to the WebMD website. Delta-8 can be found in products such as gummies, capsules, creams, and vape cartridges.

It is sometimes called “marijuana lite” or “diet weed” because it produces a vague, less intense effect than delta-9, a stronger form of THC, according to WebMD.

“Delta-8 use is becoming increasingly problematic among military personnel,” Michael Hicks, drug testing coordinator for the Army Substance Abuse Program at Ft. Campbell, R-Ky., said in an April 2022 Army press release.

The Army acknowledged that but did not immediately respond to a request this week for more information.

The military has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illegal or illicit drugs. The Army has been testing delta-8 since July 2021, but its popularity among designer drugs like spice and increasing availability prompted its inclusion in the Oct. 4 update.

These drugs are also available in states where marijuana is legal, but are always prohibited in the military.

According to the updated rules, drugs like delta-8 “have no known use other than to mimic the effects of THC in the human body.” They are so closely related in their effects to THC that they have the same potential for abuse as THC.

Two years ago, the Army warned its troops to avoid products containing delta-8, saying that because it is not as widely known as some other cannabinoids, its use remains prohibited.

“Less than 1% of the population I talk to knows what Delta-8 is or says they’ve heard of it,” Byron Good, a Civilian Army substance abuse program specialist based in at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. 2022 Press Release.

When it comes to poppy seeds, their danger lies not in any unwanted physical or mental health risks, but in the simple fact that they can test positive for codeine or morphine on a drug test.

“There are not enough opiates in poppy seeds to poison you,” says the University of Florida College of Medicine website. “But because drug tests are extremely sensitive, eating certain poppy seed foods may result in a positive urine test for opiates—especially morphine, codeine, or both.”

Poppy seeds themselves do not contain opiates, but during harvest they can be contaminated with opiates in the milky latex of the seed pods that cover them, according to the college.

In July 2021, the Army also warned soldiers about possible false alarms caused by poppy seeds. An updated alert this month adds additional information.

“Soldiers are advised to avoid consuming products containing poppy seeds, as new varieties of seeds may contain increased levels of codeine,” the order states.

“Although drug testing laboratories have taken additional measures to distinguish the use of poppy seeds from the abuse of codeine, soldiers should make every effort to avoid the consumption of these foods,” the order states.