Cheeba Chews off limits to Air Force members Published July 19, 2013 By Senior Airman Ericka Engblom 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Resembling a Tootsie Roll, one might think the worst it might do is cause a cavity, but these tiny chocolates are both potent and dangerous. Cheeba Chews, are chocolate taffy pieces that have been embedded with more than one dose of cannabis, the flowering plant that marijuana and salvia are derived from. They are designed to be an option for medical marijuana users and are strictly off limits to military members. Article 112 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice reads: (a) Any person subject to this chapter who wrongfully uses, possesses, manufactures, distributes, imports into the customs territory of the United States, exports from the United States, or introduces into an installation, vessel, vehicle, or aircraft used by or under the control of the armed forces a substance described in subsection (b) shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. (b) The substances referred to in subsection (a) are the following: (1) opium, heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, methamphetamine, phencyclidine, barbituric acid, marijuana and any compound or derivative of any such substance. This code applies to all military members no matter what the laws of the state or country they are stationed in might state. Besides being illegal, Cheeba Chews and other products like them are also dangerous. Fans of cannabis products will say that the drug does no harm and is in fact beneficial, a quote from the Cheeba Chews web site states, "Cannabis Oil is regarded as one of nature's greatest gifts." The truth about cannabis is that it is highly addictive and has several side effects that could be life-threatening. "There is no real beneficial reason for the average person to use this drug," said Lenka Ferry, 27th Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron dietician. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that use of marijuana raises a user's heartbeat by 20-100 percent, causing the risk for a heart attack to increase 4.8 fold in the first hour after using the drug. It may also cause the loss of IQ points, and has been linked to the development of depression, and the worsening of schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts. While Cheeba Chews may seem to be, as the company claims, a harmless way to relax and achieve a higher energy level, beware. They are potentially dangerous and contain more than enough cannabis oil to result in a dishonorable discharge. Be smart and say no to Cheeba Chews and similar products.