Can I be an ADA/Local Prosecutor if I smoked weed once? Forum

[ehrhdalfk]

Can I become an ADA/Local prosecutor if I smoked weed once during college?
I wasn't caught or anything, but I would rather be honest.
I'm guessing each jurisdiction has its own rules, but curious what it's like out there.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think anyone can tell you much besides it depends on the jurisdiction/office? I imagine some may not ask, especially if the state has legalized it.

[ehrhdalfk]

You're right. I was hoping this could be a place where local ADAs can chip in and give an insight into what it's like in their jurisdiction. I suspect legal states won't even ask, but I'm curious what decriminalized states like Ohio do.

[Anonymous User]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

[ehrhdalfk]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

I mean, yeah. Isn't it also good for the public if prosecutors understand people can grow up and change?

[Barrred]

Yes.

[JorgeMichael]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

Brave anon use right here.

Also OP, idk what it's like at the local level but if you disclose drug use at the federal level you're unlikely to get the position. Wouldn't be all that surprised it it's similar for some local jurisdictions.

[Anonymous User]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

Brave anon use right here.

Also OP, idk what it's like at the local level but if you disclose drug use at the federal level you're unlikely to get the position. Wouldn't be all that surprised it it's similar for some local jurisdictions.

I’m a federal prosecutor. You’re not going to get disqualified for smoking weed once in college.

[nixy]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

Asking if those consequences exist isn’t the same as being scared of them.

[ehrhdalfk]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

Brave anon use right here.

Also OP, idk what it's like at the local level but if you disclose drug use at the federal level you're unlikely to get the position. Wouldn't be all that surprised it it's similar for some local jurisdictions.

I’m a federal prosecutor. You’re not going to get disqualified for smoking weed once in college.

That's what I heard for Feds when I was filing SF86 for the military. I figured local government is probably less strict than the federal level especially if the state decriminalized it, but I wasn't too sure.

[Anonymous User]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

Brave anon use right here.

Also OP, idk what it's like at the local level but if you disclose drug use at the federal level you're unlikely to get the position. Wouldn't be all that surprised it it's similar for some local jurisdictions.

I’m a federal prosecutor. You’re not going to get disqualified for smoking weed once in college.

That's what I heard for Feds when I was filing SF86 for the military. I figured local government is probably less strict than the federal level especially if the state decriminalized it, but I wasn't too sure.

That makes sense, but it's related to how frequently you smoked and how long it's been since you last did. If you're talking about a post-law school job, smoking once in college is almost certainly too long ago to matter (they care primarily about use during law school or post-bar, or regular use). Also if military is JAG, I've heard they have more of a no-tolerance policy.

All that said, no idea what the policy is for ADAs in decriminalized states (sorry!).

[Anonymous User]

That makes sense, but it's related to how frequently you smoked and how long it's been since you last did. If you're talking about a post-law school job, smoking once in college is almost certainly too long ago to matter (they care primarily about use during law school or post-bar, or regular use). Also if military is JAG, I've heard they have more of a no-tolerance policy.

All that said, no idea what the policy is for ADAs in decriminalized states (sorry!).

In my experience, there is a lot of unfounded fear-mongering about past drug use. Maybe a decade ago any past drug use would be a deal-breaker at a lot of agencies, but that's really not the case anymore, at least with regard to marijuana.

Re JAG, that's false. If its been more than 7 years, you don't even have to report it on your SF-86 and they'll never find out.

[ehrhdalfk]

So you want to put people in jail for a living but are scared of the collateral consequences of breaking an unjust law?

Brave anon use right here.

Also OP, idk what it's like at the local level but if you disclose drug use at the federal level you're unlikely to get the position. Wouldn't be all that surprised it it's similar for some local jurisdictions.

I’m a federal prosecutor. You’re not going to get disqualified for smoking weed once in college.

That's what I heard for Feds when I was filing SF86 for the military. I figured local government is probably less strict than the federal level especially if the state decriminalized it, but I wasn't too sure.

That makes sense, but it's related to how frequently you smoked and how long it's been since you last did. If you're talking about a post-law school job, smoking once in college is almost certainly too long ago to matter (they care primarily about use during law school or post-bar, or regular use). Also if military is JAG, I've heard they have more of a no-tolerance policy.

All that said, no idea what the policy is for ADAs in decriminalized states (sorry!).

Thank you so much for your insight!

[Anonymous User]

nyc da here, you don't have to disclose (at least not from what I remember), it's much less stringent than federal

[ehrhdalfk]

nyc da here, you don't have to disclose (at least not from what I remember), it's much less stringent than federal

Thank you so much for your input! That's great to know.