Military To Start Testing Service Members For The Psychedelic Psilocin, Memo Shows

Pentagon Expands Drug Testing Amid Concerns Over Emerging Psychedelics

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has announced that it will begin testing service members for psilocin, one of the two main psychoactive compounds in psilocybin mushrooms, starting October 1. The change marks the first time the military has added a psychedelic to its standard drug screening panel.

In a memo dated August 18 and obtained by Marijuana Moment, a senior DOD official said the update to the Drug Demand Reduction Program reflects growing concerns about impairment and readiness. Psilocin testing will now join marijuana, opioids, and other controlled substances as part of the military’s zero-tolerance enforcement.

“Drug abuse by service members is a safety and readiness issue, and the Department must adapt our detection and deterrence program to address new and emerging drug threats,” wrote Dr. Merlynn Carson, the DOD official who signed the memo.

Prioritizing Psilocin Testing Under New Policy

The memo directs military labs to prioritize psilocin testing first in cases of probable cause, consent, or command-directed screenings. Depending on laboratory capacity, testing may expand to include routine inspections and even random samples.

While specific cutoff concentrations for positive psilocin tests were listed in attachments to the memo, DOD representatives did not immediately release those details. A spokesperson told Marijuana Moment that the department maintains a zero-tolerance drug policy and is committed to “continually expanding drug testing capabilities and enhancing prevention efforts.”

Psilocybin’s Contradictory Status in Military Policy

The move to add psilocin to the drug panel comes at a time when the DOD is also conducting a congressionally mandated pilot program on psychedelic-assisted therapy for active-duty service members and veterans. That initiative, launched earlier this year, is studying the potential benefits of substances like psilocybin and MDMA for treating conditions such as PTSD and depression.

The contrast highlights a growing tension between the military’s strict prohibition of drug use and the mounting evidence supporting psychedelics as medical treatments.

Broader Context: Cannabis and CBD Still Strictly Prohibited

The psilocin policy follows years of strict prohibitions on cannabis and hemp products across all military branches. Despite the legalization of marijuana in most states and the federal legalization of hemp, service members remain barred from consuming any form of cannabis—including CBD products that are widely available over the counter.

Military warnings have ranged from formal notices to creative outreach campaigns. The Air Force has cautioned that even CBD hand sanitizer or hemp granola could compromise readiness. In one notable 2019 initiative, the DOD staged a mock press conference answering humorous questions about cannabis use, including whether troops could eat “cannabis-infused burritos” or wash cats with CBD shampoo.

Each branch has reinforced similar bans:

• Air Force and Space Force: Warned pilots and recruits that even hemp-derived products are grounds for disciplinary action.
• Navy: Issued notices in 2018 and 2020 banning CBD and hemp products regardless of legality.
• Coast Guard: Explicitly barred sailors from using cannabis or visiting legal dispensaries.

These policies were shaped in part by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which issued guidance in 2019 and 2020 warning that THC contamination in CBD products could cause failed drug tests.

Service Members and Legal Challenges

The memo expanding testing to psilocin comes just two months after a DOD contractor sued the federal government, claiming that being questioned about past marijuana use during a security clearance process violated his Fifth Amendment rights.

Legal disputes over cannabis testing continue to ripple into other industries as well. The trucking sector, for instance, has warned that zero-tolerance drug policies are worsening labor shortages, with tens of thousands of drivers sidelined by positive THC tests. The U.S. Supreme Court recently sided with a trucker who said he was fired after a hemp-derived CBD product caused him to fail a THC test.

Balancing Safety With Evolving Science

For the military, the decision to begin psilocin testing underscores a continued emphasis on discipline, readiness, and safety. Officials argue that even if psychedelics eventually gain FDA approval for medical use, uncontrolled or unauthorized consumption poses risks in a high-stakes environment like the armed forces.

At the same time, the parallel effort to research psychedelics as therapies signals a recognition that these substances may have legitimate medical value. Lawmakers and veterans’ groups have pressed the Pentagon to embrace new treatments for PTSD, depression, and suicide prevention, particularly as traditional medications have shown limited effectiveness.

Looking Ahead

As of October 1, service members will be subject to psilocin testing under the revised DOD drug panel. The new policy reinforces the military’s zero-tolerance stance on drug use, even as public attitudes toward cannabis and psychedelics shift rapidly.

With psychedelic research gaining bipartisan support in Congress and advancing through clinical trials, the U.S. military finds itself navigating a difficult balance: safeguarding readiness while exploring the very substances it continues to prohibit.