The US Navy has told sailors and marines they cannot use hemp-derived products like CBD.

Navy legislation prohibits the use, ingestion, consumption or application of cannabinoid formulations made or derived from hemp or marijuana.

Officials say servicemen and servicewomen should not use CBD and hemp extracts, despite President Donald Trump signing legislation removing industrial hemp from the federal government’s list of controlled substances in December.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding CBD in the US. Most cannabidiol products were made legal by December’s ‘Farm Bill’, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that all CBD added to food in the US is still illegal.

A spokesperson said: “Navy policy has not been affected by the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and all products derived from hemp or marijuana are still prohibited.

“While currently deemed legal for civilians in some states, all hemp and CBD products are strictly prohibited for use by sailors.

“Commercially-available hemp products, including CBD, have not been inspected by the FDA and therefore have not been proven to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness. Some of these products do not list all ingredients, making it impossible to know definitively how much CBD, THC or other synthetic cannabinoids they may contain.

“Use, which is defined as oral ingestion, intravenous use, smoking/vaporisation or any other method through which hemp-derived products may enter the body, could expose the user to THC.”

Officials said it is possible to test positive for THC on a urine sample by using a CBD or hemp product.

DISCHARGE RISK

Sailors who test positive for THC or other controlled substances for which they have no valid prescription are subject could be hot with a discharge characterised as ‘Other Than Honorable’ (OTH), which can affect future veteran’s benefits and employment opportunities.

The spokesperson added: “It is the responsibility of every Sailor to ensure that he or she is diligent in avoiding intentional or accidental exposure to THC and other prohibited substances.”

Last month police watchdogs told cops in the US state of Arizona were told they will be allowed to take CBD.

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) issued a statement clarifying that it “does not view the use or possession of over-the-counter products containing CBD as constituting the illegal use or possession of marijuana, a dangerous drug, or a narcotic drug”.

The Phoenix New Times reports AZPOST has historically regarded the use of over-the-counter CBD in the same category as cannabis from a medical cannabis dispensary.

Cannabis in Arizona is legal for medical uses but prohibited for recreational use.