Drug Hiring Policy and the Federal Government Forum

[Renzo]

So what if I, myself, at one point in their life sold some of their extra cannabis to a friend for a very small amount of money. By small I mean 10 bucks worth. Does this make me a drug dealer? Will the DOJ have me? I definitely didn't profit. Help me. I'm so scared...

I'm afraid that it might, but I am not qualified to say. Once upon a time (for a non-DOJ job) I was asked, "have you ever accepted money for drugs, even from friends, or acted as the middle-man in a sale of drugs?"

[Anonymous User]

This is all bullshit. All these agencies shit a brick about a little pot smoking and some acid use when in reality about half of their employees are alcoholics.

+1

[Anonymous User]

I find it funny that I am going to law school for a clean start, and now my college habits might come back to bite me in the ass. I mean, if you look at the difference in my lsat and gpa you can easily tell I used drugs quite frequently.

[Anonymous User]

And yet our current and previous Presidents both did coke...

[Anonymous User]

Definitely out at ATF, and FBI will be unlikely (not an automatic DQ, but not good--they like boy scouts). I think for the rest of the federal agencies you'll be OK. Just don't slip up between now and then. Some departments look for 5 years clean.

i don't agree with this, and as someone who been through a background check and has known a few people who have used marijuana and worked for the FBI and other federal agencies....unless u r a crack head, you'll be fine. also keep in mind, by the time you graduate.....and when this process is initiated, you will have a few years between your marijuana use. just be honest and upfront...."real" background checks by the federal government are very intense but you won't get disqualified automatically for marijuana use unless your dishonest (which they will find out) so don't even bother lying. thats the easiest way to be disqualified for ANY job in the federal government. they always find out...sooner or later

[Renzo]

Definitely out at ATF, and FBI will be unlikely (not an automatic DQ, but not good--they like boy scouts). I think for the rest of the federal agencies you'll be OK. Just don't slip up between now and then. Some departments look for 5 years clean.

i don't agree with this, and as someone who been through a background check and has known a few people who have used marijuana and worked for the FBI and other federal agencies....unless u r a crack head, you'll be fine. also keep in mind, by the time you graduate.....and when this process is initiated, you will have a few years between your marijuana use. just be honest and upfront...."real" background checks by the federal government are very intense but you won't get disqualified automatically for marijuana use unless your dishonest (which they will find out) so don't even bother lying. thats the easiest way to be disqualified for ANY job in the federal government. they always find out...sooner or later

After your post I looked at the ATF hiring policy, and you're right, it's not an automatic DQ anymore, but I'm pretty sure any non-marijuana drug use used to be disqualifying.

[Anonymous User]

i don't agree with this, and as someone who been through a background check and has known a few people who have used marijuana and worked for the FBI and other federal agencies....unless u r a crack head, you'll be fine. also keep in mind, by the time you graduate.....and when this process is initiated, you will have a few years between your marijuana use. just be honest and upfront...."real" background checks by the federal government are very intense but you won't get disqualified automatically for marijuana use unless your dishonest (which they will find out) so don't even bother lying. thats the easiest way to be disqualified for ANY job in the federal government. they always find out...sooner or later

I'm just confused as to how they could find out about recreational marijuana use through a background check. I mean, if a person has only done it 10 times, and only with friends, would your friends rat you out? Everyone is saying that you WILL get caught but I'm not sure how that works.

[Renzo]

i don't agree with this, and as someone who been through a background check and has known a few people who have used marijuana and worked for the FBI and other federal agencies....unless u r a crack head, you'll be fine. also keep in mind, by the time you graduate.....and when this process is initiated, you will have a few years between your marijuana use. just be honest and upfront...."real" background checks by the federal government are very intense but you won't get disqualified automatically for marijuana use unless your dishonest (which they will find out) so don't even bother lying. thats the easiest way to be disqualified for ANY job in the federal government. they always find out...sooner or later

I'm just confused as to how they could find out about recreational marijuana use through a background check. I mean, if a person has only done it 10 times, and only with friends, would your friends rat you out? Everyone is saying that you WILL get caught but I'm not sure how that works.

At every stage, when they talk to someone they ask who else they should talk to., and if they even get the hint that you've concealed something they'll just reject you. If you can be sure that no one will ever, ever say they think you might have used marijuana even once, you might get away with lying. But that would be stupid since 10 times with friends wouldn't be a DQ.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a little worried about the things saying any non-marijuana drug within the past ten years is a total bar. has anyone heard any positive stories from someone with some casual hallucinogen use?

[justiceman]

Does three instances during a 2-day period within the past year of sneaking a family member's Tylenol with codeine for a horrible toothache count as illegal drug use?

[NayBoer]

Apparently I've spent my life maintaining my eligibility for federal employment and didn't even realize it.

If I only wanted to work for the feds.

[ScaredWorkedBored]

I'm just confused as to how they could find out about recreational marijuana use through a background check. I mean, if a person has only done it 10 times, and only with friends, would your friends rat you out? Everyone is saying that you WILL get caught but I'm not sure how that works.

It's called the Single Scope Background Investigation. This is, as the name would indicate, much more than plugging your name into a database. You'll run into it at DoJ, FBI, CIA or any other job that needs a Top Secret clearance.

This is an adverse investigation trying to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are who you say you are and you have no foreign/terrorist/Mafia/vampire nation loyalties. Because they're trying to catch anything up to and including a mole, they don't do this with your cooperation or just talk to people you point out.

[justiceman]

Does three instances during a 2-day period within the past year of sneaking a family member's Tylenol with codeine for a horrible toothache count as illegal drug use?

Anybody?

[Anonymous User]

How are they going to find out if you took drugs 6+ months out when there is no longer any trace in your hair.

Polygraph

If you can pass the poly you're good but unless you can control your breathing and heart rate whilst lying...

I'm surprised they still use it, polygraphs are junk science. Easily beaten with coaching, and tons of false positives.

Along with Polygraphing for drugs, I know for a fact that the secret service and other agencies ask if you have ever committed an act of beastiality (My step dad is secret service). My step father has said "You'd be suprised how many people fail that question!" So that means no animal effing!

[Anonymous User]

What about people trying to be ADA's at some point? Does anyone know what involves getting hired on with a district attorney as far as drug policies are concerned?