Is absinthe consumption legal in the military?
So I hear that absinthe is now being legally imported by makers from France and Switzerland. Even a spirit distillery in CA is producing it. My question is can military members purchase and drink it legally? I hear of soldiers bringing it back to U.S. after serving in Germany and declaring it at customs when they arrive. Are there any laws or UCMJ regulations that prohibit use in the military?
On the topic of hallucigenic properties, thujone is what made it illegal. In order for it to be legally imported here, thujone has to be under a certain percent. And the hallucigenic rumors have been scientifically disproved. I may be wrong, but to me this places it under the same category as tobacco and alcohol. It is just a strong liquor. Everclear is much stronger. Just doesn’t have thujone. Oh, and I didn’t see anything about it on the History channel. I came across some fellow soldiers who brought some when they came back from Europe.
So if it’s still illegal, why am I seeing on the internet that in March 2007, two brands of absinthe (Lucid and Kübler) became the first genuine absinthes legally imported into the United States since 1912? This was following the independent efforts by representatives of each brand to topple the longstanding U.S. ban. In December 2007, St. George Absinthe Verte, produced by St. George Spirits of Alameda, California, became the first brand of American-made absinthe to be legally produced in the United States since the enactment of the ban.
Tagged with: Absinthe • absinthes • alameda california • customs • distillery • enactment • europe • everclear • fellow soldiers • germany • history channel • independent efforts • liquor • military members • spirit • spirits • st george • switzerland • thujone • tobacco and alcohol
Filed under: Absinthe
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It is either legal for all, or it is illegal for all. I would suggest that you fully investigate the health issues inherent with the consumption of same.
I would suggest that you stop watching The History Channel.
EDIT: "MCBJ Order 5530, implemented Sept. 10, prohibits the use, possession and distribution of certain substances marketed as "legal highs," according to a Marine Corps news release.
The order was "in response to a growing trend of abusing legally obtained substances to produce mind-altering experiences," the release said.
The substances, which can be ingested or smoked, include salvia divinorum, a psychoactive herb found in Mexico; mitragyna speciosa korth, a medicinal leaf harvested from a tree in Southeast Asia; blue lotus, an aquatic flower; convolvulaceae argyreia nervousa, or Hawaiian baby woodrose; lysergic acid amide, or Mexican morning glory seeds; amanitas mushrooms; datura, also known as jimson weed;
absinthe, a liquor containing wormwood;
and 5-MEO-DMT, a powerful psychedelic found in a variety of plants.
All of the substances can produce hallucinogenic effects similar to LSD."
EDIT FOR CM: ETOH is also a "mind-altering" drug…and it is used and abused by many, if not most, military members.
EDIT FOR LYMAN: Hate to disappoint you there Chief, but I was in long enough to be both a SSgt and a Captain (USAF). I am also a VietNam Veteran. In fact, a Disabled Veteran. I am also a Clinical Psychologist, so I know about blowhards like you. …and I am neither arrogant nor rude, I just don’t suffer fools…like you! BTW, just where did I say that most military members are alcoholics? I do believe I said that many/most have abused ETOH. Do learn to read…it will open whole new vistas for you.
the UCMJ prohibits mind altering substances, anything with hallucinogenic properties.
absinthe has been linked to these.
any CO that knew about a service member having it would nail him to the wall for it. its like possessing salvia….its not technically legal….but it flirts with the line too much. in the service, you technically follow a much stricter code.
if i were to want to nail somebody for it, i would just charge article 134, the general article, and say that by possessing and using absinthe….i consider it conduct unbecoming of a service member. article 134 is the article that almost grants free reign over slamming somebody for something.
Why would you want to drink it? You already know it’s going to fuck you up, so why drink it? Grow up and be a responsible member of the military.
I’m not sure if it’s legal, never looked into it. But while we were Germany there where quite a few soldiers that partook in it. I’ve not heard of anyone bringing it back though.
It is illegal. Bars in the Netherlands serve it, and there were always warning in our base paper and the Stars and Stripes about consumming it.
Saw this about Okinawa
"MCBJ Order 5530, implemented Sept. 10, prohibits the use, possession and distribution of certain substances marketed as "legal highs," according to a Marine Corps news release"