Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the recruitment of personnel who have a criminal record for using cannabis; and if he will make a statement. [4353]
§ Mr. SoamesAll applicants to the armed forces who have a conviction for the sale, possession or abuse of controlled drugs are deemed to be unsuitable for military service.
Experimentation with class B "soft" drugs, such as cannabis, is not a bar to entry to the armed forces in itself, but the attitude to drugs is of prime importance. A young person who has used cannabis on a one-off basis will not be automatically rejected.