Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast. This is a show where we discuss the critical crossroads that shape SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink, and I'm your host, Will Walden. NASA has recently addressed claims about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's alleged illegal drug use, stating that they have no evidence of non compliance regarding drug and alcohol free workplace regulations.
Now this statement was a direct response to inquiries about Elon Musk's behavior which has been under scrutiny, especially following his on air weed use in 2018 and his public endorsements of substances like ketamine and psychedelics for public mental health treatments are The allegations against Musk include unverified insider claims of his use of substances ranging from
cocaine to LSD. Now, these reports have raised concerns about his leadership and behavior, and in response, NASA, which has significant contracts with his rocket company SpaceX, has had to examine these allegations closely due to federal government standards regarding drug use, and according to NASA, it's contracted companies like SpaceX are responsible for ensuring their employees comply with drug free workplace regulations.
This includes employees in sensitive positions, which would presumably include Musk given his high profile role and influence within SpaceX. Now there's speculation about the process SpaceX uses to collect and test Musk drug samples, though the speculation includes questions about the reliability and the integrity of the testing processes, essentially considering Musk's high status within the company.
Now, Business Insider had a report last month, and a further investigation revealed that NASA has been somewhat secretive about the findings of their drug use probe as SpaceX. This secrecy has led to more speculation that if Musk is using drugs, he's managing to do so without detection by government authorities. Now, NASA spent three months reviewing Spacex's adherence to a drug free workplace following Musk's appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast in 2018, where he is
seen smoking marijuana. Results of this investigation, obtained by Business Insider through the Freedom of Information Act, were heavily redacted, leaving the findings very unclear. The Organizational Safety Assessment by NASA was initiated after reports surfaced that Musk was micro dosing ketamine, and the Wall Street Journal's report on this matter prompted new questions about Musk's drug use. NASA initially denied having records of the assessments
results. However, after Business Insider pointed out the $5,000,000 taxpayer funded probe, NASA released some documents related to the investigation. But they were heavily censored and the probe, which included interviews with 296 SpaceX employees, covered SpaceX facilities across the United States. Despite its extensive nature and the high cost, the results were kept confidential with NASA concerns over harming Spacex's competitive posture or business interests.
Now, William Gerstmeyer, the NASA administrator who requested the review, emphasize the importance of safety in the United States space program and the need for SpaceX to maintain a drug free workplace. Now, Gerstenmeyer later joined SpaceX as the Vice President of Build and flight Reliability, and Elon has publicly responded to allegations of drug use, particularly in light of the Wall Street Journal report. He stated that three years of random testing found no traces
of drug use in his system. Musk criticize the Wall Street Journal report, dismissing it as very inaccurate, and concerns over Musk's drug use are not just limited to external reports. Senior figures within Musk's own companies have expressed worries, with a Tesla board director reportedly stepping down due to these concerns. And incidents like Musk's tweet about taking Tesla private have also raised questions about his state of mind during significant
business decisions. Musk's appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast where he smoked weed, led to a $5,000,000 NASA investigation at a drug use at SpaceX in. The results, and the implications of the investigation remain largely unknown to the public, and following the Rogan incident, Musk and SpaceX employees were now subject to random drug tests for a year.
This was in compliance with federal requirements for companies working with the government, highlighting the strict, very strict standards that federal contractors must adhere to. And Musk has maintained that he does not engage in illegal drug use, emphasizing his dislike for
such substances. This claim stands in contrast to the various reports and allegations that have surfaced over the years, creating a dichotomy between Musk's public persona and the rumors surrounding his personal life.
The controversy surrounding Musk's alleged drug use and NASA's response illustrates the complex relationship between high profile individuals, their personal conduct, and their professional responsibilities, especially when government contracts and public safety are involved.
And the odd growing scrutiny of Musk's behavior in NASA's investigation into Spacex's drug free workplace compliance continue to be subjects of interest both within the space industry and among the general public and reporters as well. And the outcome of these investigations and Musk's responses will likely have significant effects on Spacex's future operations and its relationships with NASA.
As of right now, Elon and the rest of the SpaceX crew are free and clear to continue doing what they do Now, while NASA's statement and the subsequent investigations have not definitively resolved questions about Elon Musk's alleged drug use, they've highlighted the importance of maintaining stringent standards in high stakes industries like space
exploration. The issue remains a topic of public and professional debate, reflecting the challenges of balancing personal freedoms with professional responsibilities in highly regulated sectors. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your
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