Elon Musk Denied Access to Sensitive SpaceX Facilities Due to Past Drug Use

Washington:Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been barred from accessing certain SpaceX facilities where sensitive defense projects are underway, due to his past history of public drug use.

According to a report by *The Daily Star*, citing *The Wall Street Journal*, Musk does not have the necessary security clearance to enter areas of SpaceX involved in high-security defense operations. The company’s top executives reportedly decided not to pursue higher-level security clearance for Musk in order to avoid triggering potential government investigations.

As a private defense contractor, SpaceX handles state secrets at various levels of classification, including “Confidential,” “Secret,” and “Top Secret.” While Musk holds a “Top Secret” clearance, he is still excluded from certain projects, such as the Starshield military satellite program, which operates under U.S. national security objectives.

SpaceX’s legal advisors are reportedly concerned about whether Musk will be able to maintain his current clearance or if any request for higher clearance might be rejected. This concern stems from Musk’s admission during a 2018 podcast with Joe Rogan, where he publicly acknowledged using marijuana and ketamine, substances that remain illegal under U.S. federal law.

In 2023, Musk further revealed on social media that he occasionally uses ketamine, which he described as more effective than antidepressants. He stated that the drug was prescribed to him when his mental health deteriorated, further complicating his security clearance status.

Given the sensitivity of the defense-related projects Musk’s company works on, the government’s stance on this issue could impact Musk’s access to critical SpaceX facilities.