According to the report of the first random tests of the entire military, Marijuana is the illegal drug of preference in the Canadian Forces.

The recently released study conducted marijuana drug test on random urine samples revealed that nearly one in 20 Forces members used illicit drugs. And the huge majority were consuming some kind of cannabis, with cocaine, morphine and codeine subsequently.

The survey results are derived from 1,327 mandatory urine samples taken in a random manner, without any former notice, in all three services and throughout the country. Denial to provide an urine sample could lead to disciplinary action.

In order to set a broad baseline, the Canadian Forces performed its broad survey between Feb. 2 and April 6, 2009. The tests found that nearly four per cent of those tested positive had small amounts of cannabis in their samples. In Canada, few surveys have recognized 12 per cent of the general population accepting use of illicit drugs, with marijuana which is most popular.

It has been found in the new survey results that that military drug users are usually males of age 39 years or younger, belong to lower ranks, have not finished a university or college degree, and are present in common-law connections or have never been married.

The survey conducted at Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario with nearly nine per cent of persons testing positive for marijuana drug testing. Earlier blind tests which were limited to the army and the navy recognized levels of illicit drug use at five per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively.

Canadian Forces declared that it will not tolerate illicit drug use, it also considers substance abuse as a health problem that should be dealt with education, treatment and rehabilitation and not completely using disciplinary measures.