Poppy seeds may give a positive indication for codeine or morphine on a drug test. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Army recently revised its 142 pages of drug regulations to remind soldiers to avoid poppy seeds and delta-8, a mild cannabinoid, both of which can test positive on drug tests.

The regulation, revised Oct. 4, details the Army’s program to combat drug abuse in its ranks, including guides to “smart” drug testing, who is responsible for conducting the tests and the protocol for carrying the test container to the toilet. and deliver a sample.

For example, the person who must observe a soldier providing a urine sample must possess “impeccable moral character and sufficient maturity to preserve the dignity of the soldier being tested,” the regulation states.

Delta-8 was already banned, but the Oct. 4 revision reaffirms its dangers and reminds troops that ingesting the drug is prohibited by the military.

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

It’s sometimes called “mild marijuana” or “diet weed” because it causes a hazy, less intense high than delta-9, the strongest form of THC, according to WebMD.

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

The military acknowledged the situation but did not immediately respond to a request for further information this week.

The military has a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal or illicit drugs. The military has been testing delta-8 since July 2021, but its popularity in designer drugs like spice and its increasing availability led to its inclusion in the October 4 update.

These drugs are also available in states where marijuana is legal, but they are still banned in the military.

Drugs like delta-8 “have no known applications other than to mimic the effects of THC on the human body,” according to the updated regulations. Their effects are so closely related to THC that they will have the same abuse potential as THC.

The Army warned its troops to avoid products containing delta-8 two years ago, emphasizing that because it is not as widely recognized as some other cannabinoids, it is still banned.

“Less than 1 percent of the population I talk to knows what Delta-8 is, or says they have heard of it,” said Byron Goode, a civilian specialist with the Army’s Substance Abuse Program based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in an October release. Press release 2022.

As for poppy seeds, their danger lies not in any unfortunate risks to physical or mental health, but in the simple fact that they can cause a positive indication for codeine or morphine on a drug test.

“Poppy seeds don’t contain enough opiates to get you drunk,” the University of Florida College of Medicine website states. “But because drug tests are extremely sensitive, consumption of certain poppy seed food products can lead to positive urine drug test results for opiates, particularly for morphine , codeine or both.”

Poppy seeds themselves do not contain opiates, but when harvested, they can be contaminated with opiates found in the milky latex of the pod that covers them, according to the college.

In July 2021, the Army also warned soldiers about possible false positives caused by poppy seeds. Its updated warning this month added additional details.

“Soldiers are encouraged to avoid consuming foods containing poppy seeds, as new varieties of seeds may contain high levels of codeine,” the regulation states.

“Although drug testing laboratories have implemented additional measures to distinguish poppy seed ingestion from codeine abuse, Soldiers should make every effort to avoid these food products,” the regulation states.