R 181247Z OCT 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 579/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS //
SUBJ/COMBATING THE ABUSE OF SUBSTANCES USED WITH THE INTENT TO GET HIGH//
REF/A/DESC:SECNAV WASHINGTON DC ASN MRA /-/YMD:20051205/-//
AMPN/REF A IS SECNAVINST 5300.28D, MILITARY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL//
POC/L.J. FRANCIS/LTCOL/UNIT:HQMC JA/-/TEL:703-614-4250//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE DANGERS OF ABUSING CERTAIN SUBSTANCES, COMPOUNDS AND MIXTURES USED TO "GET HIGH" AND THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH ACTION, AND PROVIDES LEADERS WITH GUIDANCE IN COMBATING THAT ABUSE.
2.  WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN REPORTED CASES OF MARINES AND SAILORS USING SUBSTANCES TO "GET HIGH," I.E, TO INDUCE INTOXICATION, EXCITEMENT OR STUPEFACTION OF THEIR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.  SUCH SUBSTANCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING. "SPICE" (SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS) "DIVINER'S SAGE" (SALVIA DIVINORUM AND SALVINORIN A) "KRATOM" (MITRAGYNASPECIOSA KORTH) "HAWAIIAN BABY WOODROSE" (CONVOLVULACEAE ARGYREIA NERVOSA) "MORNING GLORY" (LYSERGIC ACID AMIDE) "JIMSON WEED" (DATURA) "POWDER MUSHROOMS" OR "5-MEO-DMT" (5-METHOXY-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE) "JENKEM" "BLUE LOTUS" "AMANITAS MUSHROOMS" "ABSINTHE" SOME OF THESE SUBSTANCES HAVE OTHER STREET NAMES.  A MUCH LARGER VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES CAN BE ABUSED WITH THE ILLEGAL INTENT TO "GET HIGH."
3.  MANY OF THESE SUBSTANCES ARE NOT ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE LAWS AND THEY ARE EASIILY OBTAINED.  LEGAL OR NOT, THEY ARE REPORTED TO HAVE HARMFUL PHYSICAL EFFECTS SIMILAR TO THOSE PRODUCED BY ILLEGAL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. 
4.  ABUSE OF THESE SUBSTANCES AND OTHERS LIKE THEM POSES A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MARINES AND SAILORS; IT ALSO HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO AFFECT THE EFFICIENCY, DISCIPLINE AND GOOD ORDER OF MARINE UNITS.  DESPITE THEIR HIGH RISK OF PHYSICAL EFFECTS, BEING ACCESSIBLE AND UNREGULATED HEIGHTENS THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR ABUSE. 
5.  LEGAL MECHANISMS ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE TO COMMANDERS TO ADDRESS THE ABUSE OF THESE SUBSTANCES.  REFERENCE A PROHIBITS USE OF SUBSTANCES WITH THE INTENT TO INDUCE INTOXICATION, EXCITEMENT, OR STUPEFACTION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.  WHEN REVISED, IT WILL BE STRENGTHENED TO SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION, SALE, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, IMPORTATION, EXPORTATION, OR INTRODUCTION OF SUBSTANCES, COMPOUNDS OR MIXTURES INTENDED TO BE ABUSED TO PRODUCE INTOXICATION, EXCITEMENT, OR STUPEFACTION OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.  A VIOLATION OF ANY OF THESE PROHIBITIONS WILL BE PUNISHABLE AS FAILURE TO OBEY A LAWFUL GENERAL ORDER UNDER ARTICLE 92 OF THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ).  LOCAL ORDERS ALSO EXIST PROHIBITING SUCH CONDUCT.  ABUSE AND RELATED OFFENSES MAY ALSO BE ADDRESSED UNDER ARTICLE 134, UCMJ, AS CONDUCT PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE. 
6.  EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP ARE KEY TO COMBATING ABUSE OF THESE SUBSTANCES.  LEADERS MUST EDUCATE THEIR MARINES AND SAILORS ABOUT THE DANGERS POSED BY ABUSE OF SUCH SUBSTANCES AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT SUCH CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  LEADERS MUST BE ALERT TO INDICATIONS OF ABUSE AND BE AWARE OF ACTIONS AVAILABLE UPON SUSPICION OF ABUSE. 
7.  VIGILANT LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO ERADICATING ABUSE OF THESE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES BY OUR MARINES AND SAILORS.
8.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN W. J. WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR, MARINE CORPS STAFF.//